Spaghetti Aglio E Olio Recipe
Classic spaghetti with garlic and olive oil.
Was this page helpful?
Help improve this recipe for others.
Send this recipe to your inbox.
We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.
Ingredients
Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Pasta
Sauce
Garnish
Method
Pasta Preparation
- 1
Cook Spaghetti
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 400 grams of spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes.
- 2
Reserve Pasta Water
Before draining the spaghetti, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. This will help to emulsify the sauce.
- 3
Drain Spaghetti
Drain the spaghetti and set aside. Do not rinse, as you want to keep the starch that will help the sauce adhere.
Sauce Preparation
- 4
Prepare Garlic
While the pasta is cooking, peel and thinly slice 6 garlic cloves.
- 5
Heat Olive Oil
In a large skillet, heat 100 ml of extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced garlic and sauté until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- 6
Add Red Pepper Flakes
Add 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the skillet and stir for about 30 seconds to release their flavor.
Combining Ingredients
- 7
- 8
Add Reserved Pasta Water
Gradually add reserved pasta water as needed to create a silky sauce, tossing to coat the spaghetti.
- 9
Season
Season with salt to taste and continue to toss until everything is well combined.
Garnishing
- 10
Chop Parsley
Chop the fresh parsley finely and sprinkle over the pasta.
- 11
Serve
Serve immediately, garnished with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.





