Summer’s Simplest Spaghetti Aglio e Olio Recipe
A classic Italian pasta dish, Summer’s Simplest Spaghetti Aglio e Olio is a quick and easy recipe featuring al dente spaghetti tossed in a fragrant garlic and olive oil sauce with a hint of heat from red pepper flakes and fresh parsley, topped with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 400g spaghetti
- 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt, to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the 400g of spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes, following package instructions. Once cooked, reserve 1 cup of pasta water and then drain the spaghetti.
- Prepare the garlic oil. While the pasta cooks, heat 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced 6 cloves of garlic and 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, cooking gently until the garlic is golden and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Toss the pasta with the garlic oil. Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet with the garlic oil. Toss well to coat the pasta evenly. If the mixture seems dry, gradually add some reserved pasta water until you get a smooth, silky sauce that clings to the spaghetti.
- Season and add parsley. Season with salt to taste, then stir in 1/4 cup of freshly chopped parsley. Toss everything together to combine flavors thoroughly.
- Serve. Plate the spaghetti and top generously with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately while warm for the best flavor.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to your preferred level of spiciness.
- For a vegan version, omit the Parmesan cheese or use a vegan cheese alternative.
- Reserve some pasta water to help create a smooth sauce that coats the spaghetti perfectly.
- Use fresh garlic and good quality extra virgin olive oil for optimal flavor.
Keywords: Spaghetti, Aglio e Olio, garlic pasta, Italian pasta recipe, simple pasta dish