What's the deal with the pasta water?

When pasta cooks, it releases starch into the water (that is what makes it a little cloudy. And since hopefully you have thoroughly salted your water, at the end of the pasta cooking time you have a starchy, salty water that is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT for making or loosening up a light pasta sauce. It's truly magical.

Won't the garlic be too, well, garlicky if it's not minced?

Garlic actually mellows out pretty wonderfully when it is cooked, so it won't have that sharp taste. Just a mellow garlic flavor!

Can I use any kind of pasta?

I find that linguine and spaghetti work best for this recipe, but if you want to experiment with a different kind of pasta, it will still taste delicious!

Aglio e Olio

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This easy recipe for aglio e olio, otherwise known as pasta with lots of garlic and olive oil, is the perfect supper for busy nights!

Author: Kate Morgan Jackson
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 23 minutes
Yield: 6 servings 1x
Category: Dinner
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

Sea salt
16 ounces spaghetti
1/3 cup olive oil
8 large garlic cloves, cut into slivers
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (more if you are feeling spicy)
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

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Instructions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Right before you drain it, scoop out a cup of pasta water and save.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large deep skillet, add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until it just begins to turn golden on the edges. Add the red pepper and stir. Slowly pour in the pasta water and bring to a simmer for 5 minutes.
Turn off the heat, add the pasta to the garlic sauce and toss. Add the cheese and parsley and toss again. Season to taste with salt and pepper and divide among plates, sprinkling with a little more cheese.

Equipment We Used to Make This Recipe

Notes

Need to add something to your kitchen equipment to make this recipe? Below are some of the items we used in the Framed Cooks kitchen to help cook this up. These are affiliate links to things we use and love, which helps to pay for all that bacon I keep buying (without any extra cost to you)! Thanks for using them to keep our kitchen cooking…xox

Find it online: https://www.framedcooks.com/aglio-e-olio/