Description
A simple yet flavorful Italian pasta dish made with garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and fresh parsley. Spaghetti Aglio e Olio is the ultimate quick meal with bold flavors!
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340g) spaghetti
- 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- Zest of 1 lemon (optional, for extra flavor)
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced garlic and sauté until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Add the red pepper flakes to the skillet and cook for an additional 30 seconds to infuse the oil.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the garlic and oil mixture. Toss the pasta to coat evenly, adding some of the reserved pasta water as needed to help combine everything.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Toss again.
- Remove from heat and stir in the chopped fresh parsley.
- Optional: Top with grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of lemon zest for extra flavor.
- Serve immediately with extra parsley and red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
- For an extra kick, add more red pepper flakes or a splash of chili oil.
- You can add other ingredients like sautéed shrimp or toasted breadcrumbs for variation.
- If you prefer a lighter version, you can reduce the amount of olive oil or use whole wheat pasta.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 5mg