Spaghetti aglio e olio is a shining testomony to the concept generally, much less really is extra. It makes use of only a handful of easy-to-source elements and takes quarter-hour to make whereas packing plenty of taste!

Historical past
Initially often known as ‘vermicelli alla Borbonica’, spaghetti aglio e olio dates again to the 1800s. It was apparently a favourite dish of the Bourbon King Ferdinand IV who is claimed to have ordered the invention of a pronged instrument with 4 tines, in order that he may eat his garlic and oil pasta extra simply!
The Neapolitans used to make use of a 2-tined fork or their fingers to eat pasta! As soon as tomatoes turned a well-liked addition to pasta recipes, utilizing fingers turned somewhat messy!

Components
The person elements stand out extra with a dish so simple as pasta aglio e olio. For this reason it’s additional essential to go for high-quality elements:
- Spaghetti: Use high-quality Italian pasta if doable. Spaghetti is essentially the most conventional however may be substituted with linguine and vermicelli, which can also be well-liked in Italy. If you’re gluten-free, go for gluten-free pasta.
- Garlic: Contemporary garlic cloves are important for the signature taste of this dish. Whereas jarred minced garlic provides comfort, it doesn’t fairly seize the identical strong taste as contemporary garlic.
- Further Virgin Olive Oil: Further virgin olive oil gives the foundational taste for the dish, so it’s essential to make use of a good-quality one.
- Contemporary Parsley: Dried parsley doesn’t supply the identical vibrant colour or contemporary style, so it’s greatest to stay with the contemporary parsley.
- Salt: Salt is used to season the pasta water and the ultimate dish. You may alter the salt to your private desire on the finish.

Knowledgeable Suggestions
Good Pasta: Cooking pasta to ‘al dente’ ensures it retains a small chunk and isn’t mushy. Recurrently taste-test your pasta in direction of the top of its cooking time to seek out that candy spot.
Garlic Colour: Since garlic is central to this recipe, monitor its colour as you sauté. If the garlic turns darkish, it is going to add bitterness to your dish, so ensure you sauté it slowly. Ought to it brown too rapidly, momentarily take away your pan from the warmth.
Pasta Water: Including pasta water is a matter of desire; some folks do and a few don’t. Should you add pasta water, stir the pasta till the pasta water incorporates with the oil. The starchy water will emulsify with the garlic oil to make a sauce.
Step by Step Directions
1) Convey a big pot of water to a boil. As soon as boiling, season with salt and convey it to a boil. Add the pasta and prepare dinner till al dente. Earlier than draining the pasta, reserve half a cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta.
2) Whereas the pasta is cooking, warmth up additional virgin olive oil in a big sauté pan over medium warmth. Add the garlic, permitting it to melt for about 2-3 minutes.

Observe: If the garlic begins to brown, the warmth is just too excessive. Take away the pan from the warmth till the garlic stops frying, then add the pan again onto a decrease warmth till the garlic is softened.

3) As soon as the garlic is softened, flip off the warmth. Combine within the drained pasta and parsley to the sauté pan. If desired, additionally combine in half of the reserved pasta water.
Observe: The starches within the pasta water will incorporate with the oil, making an oil-based sauce. If the sauce is just too skinny, you possibly can scale back it whereas mixing over medium warmth.

4) Season to style with salt and serve instantly.

Storage and Leftovers
Storing: Spaghetti aglio e olio is undoubtedly greatest when loved contemporary. Nonetheless, if you end up with leftovers, you possibly can retailer them in an hermetic container. They’ll stay good within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
Reheating: Reheating spaghetti aglio e olio is difficult as microwaving can lead to uneven texture, with some pasta items turning into dry and exhausting. I like to recommend including a splash of water to a big saute pan, bringing it to a simmer, then including the pasta aglio e olio. After, flip down the warmth to medium and slowly combine till sizzling.

FAQs
Completely! Whereas spaghetti is conventional, linguine and vermicelli are additionally well-liked selections in Italy. Should you’re avoiding gluten, use gluten-free pasta.
In case your oil-based sauce feels too runny, it may be as a consequence of including an excessive amount of pasta water or it hasn’t emulsified effectively. Make sure you stir constantly to assist the starchy pasta water meld with the oil to type a silky sauce. If wanted, you possibly can scale back it somewhat over a medium warmth.
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