🍝 Spaghetti with Garlic & Olive Oil (Aglio e Olio)
This is a classic Italian dish—simple ingredients, big flavor, ready in minutes.
🧾 Ingredients
- 250g spaghetti
- 4–6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 4–6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- ½ tsp chili flakes (optional but traditional)
- Salt (for pasta water)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
- Parmesan cheese (optional, not traditional but popular)
🔪 Instructions
1. Cook the pasta
- Boil spaghetti in well-salted water
- Cook until al dente
- Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain
2. Make the garlic oil
- In a pan, heat olive oil on low-medium
- Add sliced garlic
- Cook gently until lightly golden (don’t burn it—it turns bitter)
- Add chili flakes if using
3. Combine
- Add drained spaghetti into the pan
- Toss well to coat in garlic oil
- Add a splash of reserved pasta water to help it cling and emulsify
4. Finish
- Add parsley
- Taste and adjust salt
- Optional: top with parmesan
🔥 What makes it special
- Simple ingredients turn into deep, rich flavor
- Garlic-infused oil coats every strand
- Slight heat from chili balances the richness
🧠Pro tips
- Low heat is key for garlic (burnt garlic ruins the dish)
- Use good-quality olive oil—it’s the main flavor
- Pasta water helps create a silky sauce
🍽️ Variations
- Add shrimp or chicken for protein 🍤
- Add lemon zest for brightness 🍋
- Add anchovies for deeper umami (authentic Italian style)
🧩 Bottom line
It’s one of the simplest pasta dishes ever—but when done right, it tastes restaurant-level with just a few ingredients.
If you want, I can give you a spicy version, creamy version, or authentic Italian restaurant method.
