Description
A classic Italian pasta dish featuring spaghetti tossed in a flavorful garlic and olive oil sauce with a hint of red pepper flakes and fresh parsley. Simple, quick, and perfect for a comforting meal ready in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz spaghetti
Sauce
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Salt, to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water and cook spaghetti until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. This ensures the pasta retains a slight bite and the perfect texture to absorb the sauce.
- Sauté Garlic: In a skillet over medium heat, warm the extra virgin olive oil. Add the minced garlic and sauté gently until it turns golden brown, approximately 1 to 2 minutes. Be careful not to burn the garlic to avoid bitterness.
- Add Red Pepper Flakes: Stir in the red pepper flakes and cook for another 30 seconds to release their flavor into the oil.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Reserve a cup of pasta cooking water before draining the spaghetti. Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet with the garlic and chili oil, tossing well to coat evenly. Gradually add reserved pasta water as needed to create a silky, emulsified sauce.
- Finish and Season: Remove the skillet from heat. Stir in the chopped fresh parsley and add salt to taste to enhance the flavors.
- Serve: Serve the spaghetti immediately, optionally drizzling with a little extra olive oil for richness and shine.
Notes
- To prevent garlic from burning, keep the heat at medium and stir frequently.
- Adjust the red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- Using reserved pasta water helps the sauce adhere better to the spaghetti and adds a nice silky texture.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute spaghetti with gluten-free pasta.
- Fresh parsley can be replaced with basil or oregano for a different herbaceous note.
