Easiest, lightest yet palate pleasing
Rooting to Naples (Southern Italy), Spaghetti Aglio e Olio is known for its taste of Spaghetti dressed with garlic and oil, representing the family of pasta alla norma. Being labelled as “la cucina povera”, this dish is often popularised as the cuisine of the poor. This Italian dish is a last-minute dinner and can be made with simple ingredients that are always available at home and easily affordable
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio became popular during the Neapolitan era, when meat was scarce and not everyone could afford it. With basic and simple ingredients, the typical classic Spaghetti Aglio e Olio used mostly three ingredients (spaghetti, garlic and olive oil), which made it not only flavourful but also a dish that required less time to make. The inclusion of red chilli peppers happened later due to the inclusion of Southern Italy’s spice trade.
Ingredients
- Spaghetti
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Garlic cloves
- Red chilli flakes
- Fresh Parsley
Getting Started
Step 1: Take a pot and pour in water in it. Add in salt and few drops of olive oil. Now, as soon as the water starts to boil, add in your spaghetti and let it cook
Step 2: Let the spaghetti cook, but only 80% then turn off the flame and drain the remaining starch in a different bowl. (The starch is going to be needed further in the recipe, so do not throw it away)
Tip: Wash the spaghetti with cold water to prevent it from overcooking
Step 3: Cut the garlic cloves into thin slices and henceforth finely chop the parsley
Step 4: Now take a pan and to it, add in olive oil followed by sliced garlic cloves and red chilli pepper
Step 5: As soon as the garlic starts to sizzle, add in chopped parsley to the skillet
Step 6: To this, add in the remaining starch (the water in which the spaghetti was boiled). We do not want a slurry, so add in the starch as per your requirement
Step 7: Let the water start bubbling further add in your spaghetti and stir it slowly but continuously (without breaking the spaghetti strands). You can even add water (if needed)
Step 8: Give it a good mix, and it is ready to serve
Quick Bites
- Add at least 2 tablespoons of salt, while cooking the spaghetti as the recipe further does not require any additional salt
- Cook as per the instructions on the package (is spaghetti used, is packaged) or if it is homemade, check the boiling spaghetti at every 20-30 seconds
- Do not throw away the spaghetti starch, as starch plays an important role in improving spaghetti’s texture and taste
- Do not overcook garlic and red pepper. Note that we only must tackle the rawness of garlic to let the oil absorb the essence of garlic and chilli flakes
- You can also serve it with toppings (such as seasoned shrimps, tomatoes etc.)
How to Store?
You can preserve the cooked spaghetti by storing it in an airtight container and splash some water in a heated pan and add in your cooked spaghetti, let it reach a suitable temperature and enjoy
But for better taste and texture, cook it and consume it at the moment itself.
