This dish is a simple and classic Italian way to prepare your pasta at home. The sauce is flavored with mixture of olive oil, garlic, a little spicy red chili and is created by tossing the warm olive oil mixture with hot pasta, starchy pasta water and parmesan cheese. We undercook the pasta slightly in the water only to finish the cooking in the pan while allowing the sauce to thicken and flavors to soak into the pasta.
This recipe cooks in less than 10 minutes and can be topped with garden vegetables, shrimp, scallops or chicken. You can even add a couple of chopped tomatoes and fresh basil for a fresh summer side dish.
Pasta Aglio y Olio (Garlic and Oil)
Serves 2
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook your pasta 2 minutes less then the instructions say. While that is cooking, heat the olive oil and garlic on low heat for 3 minutes, making sure not to burn the garlic. When the pasta is ready, add it to the pan along with the pasta water, salt and chili flakes then cook for one minute tossing the whole time. Continue to toss in the cheese, herbs and fresh pepper unit the sauce thickens and coats the pasta lightly. Garnish with a spindle of cheese and serve immediately.