Description
Delightful Garlic Pasta sparkles with Mediterranean simplicity, offering a quick culinary escape to Italian kitchens. Silky noodles draped in fragrant olive oil and roasted garlic invite you to savor each comforting, flavor-packed bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) spaghetti
Seasoning Ingredients:
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Garnish and Flavor Enhancers:
- 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Zest of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Fill a spacious pot with water, generously season with salt, and bring to a rolling boil. Carefully submerge spaghetti and cook until perfectly tender yet firm, following package guidance. Before straining, carefully extract and preserve a portion of starchy pasta liquid.
- Simultaneously, warm olive oil in a generously sized skillet over moderate heat. Introduce thinly sliced garlic, allowing it to sizzle and transform into a delicate golden hue without scorching, which typically requires 1-2 minutes of attentive monitoring.
- Sprinkle red pepper flakes into the aromatic oil, gently stirring to distribute heat and awaken the spice’s intense flavor profile.
- Reduce flame to a gentle simmer and transfer drained pasta directly into the fragrant skillet. Elegantly toss noodles, ensuring each strand becomes luxuriously coated with the garlic-infused oil. If the mixture appears slightly dry, gradually introduce reserved pasta water to create a silky, cohesive sauce.
- Incorporate freshly chopped parsley, season with salt, and add a whisper of black pepper. Thoroughly combine ingredients, guaranteeing an even and harmonious distribution of flavors across the pasta.
- Present immediately, optionally embellishing with a delicate dusting of grated Parmesan and a bright sprinkle of lemon zest to elevate the dish’s aromatic complexity.
Notes
- Prevent garlic from burning by using medium-low heat and constantly monitoring the skillet to maintain a golden color without turning bitter.
- Keep some pasta water as a secret weapon to help sauce cling to noodles and create a silky, smooth texture when mixing ingredients.
- Customize the heat level by adjusting red pepper flakes, allowing spice-sensitive diners to enjoy a milder version or heat lovers to add extra kick.
- Make this dish gluten-free by substituting traditional pasta with zucchini noodles or gluten-free spaghetti for those with dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 75 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg