Description
Aglio e Olio comes alive when fresh garlic dances with silky pasta strands, creating pure Italian comfort straight from your kitchen. Garlic-infused olive oil and perfectly cooked spaghetti deliver simple yet deeply satisfying flavor that connects you directly to classic Roman cooking traditions.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Protein:
- 1 pound spaghetti
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 6–8 cloves garlic
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Base and Finishing:
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- Extra virgin olive oil (for drizzling)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Thinly slice 6-8 garlic cloves with a sharp knife, creating delicate, translucent pieces that will infuse your sauce with rich flavor.
- Pour ½ cup extra virgin olive oil into a large skillet, heating it over medium-low temperature for even distribution.
- Add the sliced garlic and ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes directly into the warm oil, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Watch carefully as the garlic turns a delicate golden color in 5-7 minutes.
- Fill a large pot with water, adding a generous pinch of salt. Bring to a rolling boil at 212°F.
- Drop 1 pound of spaghetti into the boiling water, cooking for exactly 8-10 minutes until it reaches perfect al dente texture.
- Before draining, carefully scoop out ½ cup of starchy pasta water using a measuring cup.
- Drain the spaghetti in a colander, shaking off excess water but not rinsing.
- Transfer the hot pasta directly into the skillet with garlic-infused oil, tossing gently to coat every strand.
- Pour ¼ cup reserved pasta water into the skillet, vigorously tossing to create a silky, emulsified sauce.
- Sprinkle salt and freshly ground black pepper across the pasta, adjusting seasoning to your taste.
- Fold in ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley, distributing the bright green herbs evenly.
- Plate the pasta immediately, garnishing with extra parsley and a light drizzle of olive oil.
- For extra indulgence, offer grated Parmesan cheese at the table for guests to sprinkle as desired.
Notes
- Watch the garlic carefully to prevent burning, which creates a bitter taste that ruins the delicate flavor of the sauce.
- Reserve the pasta water before draining, as the starchy liquid helps create a silky, emulsified sauce that coats every strand of spaghetti.
- Use the highest quality extra virgin olive oil possible, since the simple ingredients mean each flavor will shine through distinctly.
- For a gluten-free version, swap traditional spaghetti with gluten-free pasta made from rice, corn, or chickpea flour to maintain the classic texture.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 13-17 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 517 kcal
- Sugar: 0.3 g
- Sodium: 6 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 66 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg