15-Minute Spaghetti Aglio E Olio
This recipe presses the refresh button on Spaghetti Aglio E Olio as we know it with the addition of toasted breadcrumbs and fresh lemon!
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb spaghetti Or long pasta like angel hair, fettuccine, etc.
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 8 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced Add more if you want more heat
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes
- 1/2 cup toasted breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley finely chopped
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
Instructions
- Heat a dry pan over medium heat and, when the pan is hot, reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the breadcrumbs to the pan and let them toast, shaking the pan every now and then so they don't burn. When the breadcrumbs start to become aromatic and turn a light golden color, remove them from the heat and set them aside.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once you have a rolling boil, toss a generous amount of salt into the water. Add the pasta and, going by the instructions on the packaging, cook it to al dente.
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-low heat. When it's hot, add the garlic and chili flakes, giving them a good stir to prevent burning. Stir them often to keep them moving. (Avoid browning thr garlic.)
- When the pasta is ready, reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water; drain the rest.
- Transfer the pasta to the garlic and chili oil and, using tongs, toss the pasta thoroughly until it's all covered. Add the pasta water bit by bit to create a sauce out of the oil. This will also help the sauce stick to the noodles.
- Do a taste test with the pasta and, If it seems bland, add a few pinches of salt until you get the flavor going. This is why salting the pasta water enough is so important.
- Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, fresh parsley, toasted bread crumbs, and a few cracks of black pepper if you're so inclined. If you're adding any parmesan cheese, now is the time to do that.
- Toss well to coat and serve with extra chili flakes for those who like a little extra heat.
Notes
Get the pasta started first, then prep all of your ingredients (get everything chopped, lined up, and ready to go). Once you start heating that oil, things move fast and you don't want the garlic to burn! So timing is crucial.
You could add a bit of chicken broth to your pasta water for extra flavor.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 458kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 28g | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g
