SPAGHETTI WITH GARLIC AND OLIVE OIL (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read mydisclosure policyfor more details.

This humble and fragrant spaghetti with garlic and olive oil brings me back to my childhood.It’s a classic Italian pasta dish that requires a few cheap ingredients, little effort, and it’s ready in 10 minutes.

It’s a super quick spaghetti recipe, delicious and packed with flavor, which comes in handy any time. Absolutely perfect for sharing with friends or after a long day, when you decide pasta is for dinner tonight.

SPAGHETTI WITH GARLIC AND OLIVE OIL (1)

Jump to recipe

Spaghetti Aglio e olio (garlic and olive oil)is simple, cheap, good, satisfying, and fun.

I promise, the lovely smell of garlic and chili flakes, gently fried in olive oil, will cheer you up!

SPAGHETTI WITH GARLIC AND OLIVE OIL (2)

    • WHAT YOU NEED FOR THIS RECIPE:

      • Regular or whole wheat spaghetti
      • Extra virgin olive oil
      • Garlic
      • Fresh or dried chili flakes
      • Salt
      • Parmesan cheese (optional)
      • Parsley (optional)

    SPAGHETTI WITH GARLIC AND OLIVE OIL (3)HOW TO MAKE PASTA WITH AGLIO E OLIO?
    (Note: ingredient quantities and method are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post)

    • Cook your spaghetti until al dente
    • Meantime, fry gently garlic and chili in olive oil
    • Drain spaghetti, reserve 1/2 cup cooking water
    • Add spaghetti and parley to the skillet

    SPAGHETTI WITH GARLIC AND OLIVE OIL (4)

    • Add as much cooking water as needed to make the pasta moist
    • Stir well to coat
    • If you don’t keep it vegan, serve with parmesan cheese
    • Sprinkle extra chili flakes and parsley, if you like. Enjoy!

    SPAGHETTI WITH GARLIC AND OLIVE OIL (5)

    EASY, HEALTHY AND INEXPENSIVE!

    First things first, a skillet of this fragrant and spicy spaghetti comes together in 10 MINUTES and costs less than 90 cents per serving!

    Also, this simple homemade spaghetti dish is likely healthier than an expensive last-minute takeaway, and if you go for whole grainpasta you’ll get more natural fiber and micronutrients than white pasta. Plus,extra virgin olive oil featuresalong list of health benefits and coats your pasta beautifully.

    This is simple, real, food.

    MORE DELICIOUS PASTA RECIPES READY IN 10 MINUTES?

    • 10-Minute lemon ricotta spaghetti
    • Raw cherry tomato pasta
    • 10-minute cream cheese pasta
    • Sun dried tomato pesto pasta

    SPAGHETTI WITH GARLIC AND OLIVE OIL (6)Recipe updated: originally posted in November 2018, I’ve tweaked the post adding more notes and new pictures.

    RECIPE NOTES & TIPS

    Only a few basic ingredients, but their quality will make the difference! Pasta, garlic and olive oil are the key ingredients in this recipe.

    PASTA

    What’s better than spaghetti? Long pasta is simply perfect with garlic and olive oil, you will lovewrapping spaghetti or linguine around your fork!

    And when you chose pasta, have a proper look at the label and go for durum wheat semolina pasta. Pasta brand matters, and althoughpremium quality pasta is a bit more expensive than basic pasta, it’s resilient, it has a more robust texture.

    EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

    Extra virgin olive oil is the flavor you want here.

    A good extra virgin olive oil smells and tastes good, clean and fresh. The flavor can be fruity, floral, herbal or even subtle, but never overpowering in a way that indicates rancidity.
    Tasteless olive oil or other regular vegetable oil won’t work.

    WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD A TWIST?

    To make it more special, for people who think this spaghetti with garlic and olive oil is too simple, add a further burst of flavor by including a couple of anchovy filletsand fry them along with the garlic and chili flakes.

    Also,marinated artichokes, olives or sun-dried tomatoes will take this simple dish to the next level with a Mediterranean twist.

    This is a tasty, inexpensive and one of the most crowd-friendly dishes for your last-minute parties, or just the thing when you get home late or don’t feel like cooking.

    Simple food is the best.

    And if you make this spaghetti with garlic and olive oil, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it or tag a photo #theclevermeal on Instagram. I would love to hear from you!

    SPAGHETTI WITH GARLIC AND OLIVE OIL (7)

    Print Recipe

    4.97 from 32 votes

    Simple, fragrant and inexpensive, this spaghetti with garlic and olive oil is so good, cheap, satisfying and ready in a flash!

    Recipe updated: originally posted in November 2018, I've tweaked the post adding more notes and new pictures.

    Prep Time10 minutes mins

    Total Time10 minutes mins

    Course: pasta

    Cuisine: Italian, vegan, vegetarian

    Keyword: Spaghetti with garlic and olive oil

    Servings: 4

    Calories: 693kcal

    Author: Katia

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb (450 grams) spaghetti, or other long pasta
    • 1/2 cup (120 ml) extra virgin olive oil
    • 4-5 garlic cloves, finely sliced
    • 1 tsp dried chili flakes, or to taste (or 3 fresh chillies)
    • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, coarsely chopped
    • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more to serve (optional, if you don't keep it vegan)
    • salt, to taste

    Instructions

    • Bring a pot of salted water to the boil and add spaghetti.Cook until al dente: the spaghetti is soft but still has a little bite.

    • While the spaghetti is cooking make the sauce: If you don't use dried chili flakes, remove the seeds from the chilies and finely chop.Peel and finely slice the garlic cloves.

    • Heat the olive oil gently in a frying pan. Add the garlic and chili and cook gently for a few minutes,or until the garlic is pale gold,which will be enough time for the flavorings to infuse the oil (take care not to burn it!). Stir in chopped parsley.

    • Drain the spaghetti still "al dente", reserve 1/2 cup cooking water.

    • Add spaghetti to the frying pan, stir well to coat with the oil, add some starchy cooking water, as much as needed to ensure the pasta is moist and juicy*.

      Cook on medium heat for 30 seconds, stirring a couple of times.

    • Sprinkle the spaghetti with extra chopped parsley, and grated parmesan cheese if you don't keep it vegan. Enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    Tips: Heating the garlic and chilli too much will send it bitter. Make sure the garlic doesn't get any darker than pale gold.

    Cooking water: add pasta water gradually, you might not need all of it. You don't want to water down the flavor, but only make spaghetti nice and moist.

    NOTE: Nutritional values are estimates only (the amount of calories doesn't include parmesan cheese).

    Nutrition

    Calories: 693kcal | Carbohydrates: 86g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 41mg | Potassium: 302mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 593IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 2mg

    Join my newsletter for free weekly recipes!

    SPAGHETTI WITH GARLIC AND OLIVE OIL (2024)
    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Article information

    Author: Lilliana Bartoletti

    Last Updated:

    Views: 6101

    Rating: 4.2 / 5 (73 voted)

    Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Lilliana Bartoletti

    Birthday: 1999-11-18

    Address: 58866 Tricia Spurs, North Melvinberg, HI 91346-3774

    Phone: +50616620367928

    Job: Real-Estate Liaison

    Hobby: Graffiti, Astronomy, Handball, Magic, Origami, Fashion, Foreign language learning

    Introduction: My name is Lilliana Bartoletti, I am a adventurous, pleasant, shiny, beautiful, handsome, zealous, tasty person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.