Aglio e Olio
Classic Italian pasta with garlic and olive oil. Ready in just 10 minutes, this elegant dish uses simple ingredients to create bold flavor. Infinitely customizable with your choice of add-ins.
10 mins
Ingredients
Optional
Equipment Needed
- large pot
- saucepan
Ingredients
Optional
Equipment Needed
- large pot
- saucepan
Instructions
- 1
Cook pasta
Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook pasta 1 minute shy of package directions, reserving 1 cup of pasta water to be used later.
- 2
Infuse oil with garlic
While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil and garlic in a saucepan until the garlic starts to sizzle. Continue cooking the garlic until it starts to brown on the edges and the oil is infused with the flavor of garlic.
- 3
Add chili flakes (optional)
If you want your Aglio Olio to have a little kick, add a bit of dried chili flakes and cook for 30 seconds more. Make sure you don't burn the garlic.
- 4
Form the sauce
Add 1/2 cup of pasta water to the pan and simmer for 1-2 minutes to form the sauce.
- 5
Combine pasta and sauce
Add pasta to the pan and toss to coat with the sauce.
- 6
Finish cooking
Continue to simmer until there's almost no visible liquid left in the bottom of the pan.
- 7
Garnish and serve
Add Parmesan cheese, more chili flakes, and chopped parsley. Toss well before serving immediately.
Cook's Notes
One of the easiest and most basic pasta sauces. Every sauce begins with good olive oil and garlic. This dish is incredibly versatile - add dried chili flakes for heat, shrimp/clams/mussels for seafood pasta, sausage or chorizo for meatier versions, or anchovies to add depth while maintaining the classic Aglio Olio flavor profile.
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