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–+ servings

Garlicky Spaghetti

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A quick and comforting Italian dish featuring spaghetti, garlic, olive oil, and a hint of red pepper.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta Ingredients
  • 200 g spaghetti or pasta of your choice Use gluten-free pasta if needed.
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced Increase to 6–8 cloves for more garlic flavor.
  • 1/4 cup high-quality olive oil Extra virgin for flavor; avoid low-grade olive oil.
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes Adjust to taste.
  • to taste salt For boiling water and final seasoning.
  • fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish Substitute with basil for a sweeter herb note.
  • Optional: grated Parmesan cheese Omit for a vegan version or swap for nutritional yeast.

Method
 

Cooking the Pasta
  1. Fill a large pot with water, salt it generously, and bring to a boil.
  2. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8–10 minutes.
  3. Before draining, scoop out 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water and set aside. Then, drain the pasta.
Preparing the Sauce
  1. While the pasta boils, heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
  2. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook gently, stirring, for 1–2 minutes until fragrant and just turning pale gold. Do not let it brown.
  3. Remove the skillet from heat briefly if the garlic starts to color too quickly.
Combining
  1. Add the drained pasta to the skillet, pour in a few tablespoons of reserved pasta water, and toss vigorously to coat.
  2. Add more pasta water a little at a time until you achieve a silky emulsion.
  3. Taste and season with salt. Finish with chopped parsley and a sprinkling of grated Parmesan if using.
  4. Serve immediately so the sauce clings to the hot pasta.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 10gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 300mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1g

Notes

For storage, cool leftovers and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave.
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