Simple and Easy Pasta with Olive Oil and Garlic (Aglio e Olio)

Ingredients

• 1 pound Spaghetti (dried, high‑quality durum wheat)
• 8 cloves Garlic (thinly sliced lengthwise)
• 0.33 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (good quality, cold‑pressed)
• 0.5 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (optional for heat)
• 1 tablespoon Salt (for boiling water)
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt (for sauce seasoning)
• 3 tablespoons Italian Parsley (flat‑leaf, chopped)

Instructions

1. Slice Garlic

   Trim the ends of the garlic cloves and slice each one thin lengthwise.

   Time: PT5M

2. Measure Oil

   Measure 1/3 cup extra‑virgin olive oil and set aside.

   Time: PT1M

3. Cook Garlic in Oil

   Place a cold skillet over medium‑low heat, add the sliced garlic and olive oil, and cook until the garlic turns a light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat before the garlic fully darkens.

   Time: PT5M

4. Boil Water for Pasta

   In a large stockpot, bring 3 quarts of water to a rolling boil, then add 1 tablespoon salt.

   Time: PT10M

5. Cook Spaghetti

   Add the spaghetti to the boiling water and cook for exactly 5 minutes, until the pasta is firm‑to‑the‑center (al dente).

   Time: PT5M

6. Reserve Pasta Water and Drain

   Before draining, ladle out 3 cups of the starchy pasta water and set aside. Drain the pasta, reserving 2 cups of the water for the sauce and keeping the remaining cup for later use if needed.

   Time: PT3M

7. Season the Garlic Oil

   Add ½ teaspoon salt to the skillet with the cooked garlic and oil, stirring to dissolve.

   Time: PT1M

8. Combine Pasta and Sauce

   Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet, pour in 2 cups of the reserved pasta water, and fold the pasta over itself over medium‑high heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly to emulsify the oil and water into a creamy coating.

   Time: PT5M

9. Rest the Pasta

   Turn off the heat and let the pasta sit in the pan for 2 minutes to finish cooking and allow the sauce to thicken slightly.

   Time: PT2M

10. Adjust Consistency

    If the pasta looks too thick, stir in additional reserved pasta water, about ¼ cup at a time, until the desired sauciness is achieved.

    Time: PT1M

11. Finish with Parsley

    Stir in 3 tablespoons of chopped Italian parsley just before serving for brightness and color.

    Time: PT1M

Nutrition Facts

Calories

460

Protein

8g

Carbohydrates

45g

Fat

12g

Fiber

2g