Spaghetti with Garlic and Oil with a touch of parsley

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If you're looking for an easy, quick, and low-ingredient recipe that's also incredibly tasty, try Spaghetti with Garlic and Oil. This recipe is a favorite in my house, especially during the summer months, as it's a very light dish.

Garlic and Oil Pasta… and a touch of parsley and Parmesan

If there is one dish that proves that Italian cuisine can be pure magic with just a few ingredients, it is spaghetti with garlic and oilAromatic, simple, and ready in just 15 minutes. This recipe is one of my favorites for those days when I don't know what to cook and/or need to go grocery shopping because I only have parsley and a few other things left in the fridge. Oddly enough, it's a dish that everyone loves at home. My kids are always happy when I make spaghetti with garlic and oil.

Get ready to enjoy an Italian classic (Pasta al Aglio e Olio) that never goes out of style... and is sure to become one of your favorites! 🍝💛

How to Make Spaghetti with Garlic and Oil

Garlic and Oil Spaghetti is prepared in 15 minutes or less. Unless you have the time and desire to prepare homemade pasta like I usually do. You can click here for the homemade pasta recipe. It's worth making it yourself, although if you don't have the time or you just don´t feel like it, you can easily make this recipe with store-bought spaghetti.

To make this recipe you need

• 400 grams of spaghetti (or you can make homemade pasta)
• 250 ml extra virgin olive oil
• 6 garlic cloves
• parsley to taste
• salt and pepper to taste
• parmesan cheese (optional, but highly recommended!)

How to Make Spaghetti with Garlic and Oil – Step by Step

Step 1 – Boil the spaghetti

In a large pot, bring plenty of water to a boil. Once boiling, just before adding the spaghetti, add a teaspoon of salt.

Cook the spaghetti according to the time indicated on the package, until they are al dente.

Optional, save half a cup of the cooking water before draining for later.

Step 2 – prepare the oil and garlic sauce

In a frying pan, heat the olive oil and add the grated garlic (you can use a garlic press if you prefer or finely chop the garlic) and cook over low-medium heat for about 3 minutes.

Step 3 – mix pasta and sauce

Add the spaghetti to the pan, stir, and cook for 2-3 minutes (if you have saved half a cup of the cooking water, add that too). Add the parsley and turn off the heat.

Step 4 – finishing touch

Adjust the seasoning (salt and black pepper). Serve with grated Parmesan cheese on top.

💡 Tips and tricks

• Use extra virgin olive oil of good quality: it is the star of the dish.
• If you like a spicy touch, add a chilli or chili flakes to the oil together with the garlic.
• For a creamier version, you can add an extra tablespoon of cooking water.
• This dish is best enjoyed freshly made, but if you have any leftovers, store them in the refrigerator and reheat them gently with a drizzle of oil.

Frequently Asked Questions about Spaghetti with Garlic and Oil

1. Can I use another type of pasta instead of spaghetti?
Yes, although the traditional Italian recipe is made with spaghetti, you can use linguine, fettuccine, or even short pasta like penne.

2. Which oil is best for this recipe?
High-quality extra virgin olive oil is essential, as it provides the main flavor of the dish.

3. How to prevent garlic from burning?
Cook over medium-low heat and remove from heat as soon as it begins to brown slightly. Burnt garlic makes the dish bitter.

4. Can you make spaghetti with garlic and oil without parsley?
Yes, although fresh parsley adds a touch of color and aroma, you can omit it or replace it with fresh basil.

5. Can I prepare this recipe in advance?
Ideally, it's best eaten freshly made so the pasta doesn't dry out, but you can reheat it with a little more olive oil over low heat.

6. How to make the pasta juicier?
Save some of the cooking water and add it when mixing with the oil and garlic; this helps the sauce adhere better to the pasta.

If you like this pasta recipe, check out the following recipes

• I highly recommend that you make your own homemade pasta, I have a blog post with the recipe for homemade pasta step by step that I use every time I make this dish.
• Make this pasta with pesto, sun-dried tomatoes and mozzarellaWhich is another very easy recipe to make and ideal during the hot summer months.
• Serve it with a refreshing glass of homemade Nestea.

Save this Pasta al Aglio e Oglio recipe on Pinterest!

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