Description
Garlic parmesan spaghetti whisks classic Italian comfort straight to your dinner table with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Creamy, rich pasta combines simple ingredients into a quick weeknight meal that satisfies deep hunger and culinary cravings in mere minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) spaghetti
Main Seasonings:
- 6–8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Finishing and Optional Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup (25 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Prepare a generously salted water bath in a large pot, bringing it to a rolling boil. Submerge the spaghetti strands, cooking until they reach a perfect al dente texture. Carefully extract and preserve one cup of the starchy liquid before draining the pasta.
- Transform a spacious skillet into a flavor incubator by warming olive oil over medium heat. Introduce thinly sliced garlic, gently coaxing it to a golden hue and releasing its aromatic essence. Maintain vigilant stirring to prevent any bitter scorching.
- Awaken the skillet with a sprinkle of fiery red pepper flakes, allowing them to dance and unfurl their zesty personality for a brief moment.
- Marry the cooked pasta with the fragrant oil, creating a harmonious coating. Gradually introduce the reserved pasta water, orchestrating a silky, luxurious sauce that clings lovingly to each strand.
- Calibrate the flavor profile with a judicious blend of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Gracefully lift the skillet from heat, then cascade chopped parsley and a snow of Parmesan cheese across the surface.
- Present the glistening pasta on warmed plates, ready for immediate enjoyment. Optional: Elevate the dish with a vivacious squeeze of lemon, introducing a bright, citrusy counterpoint to the rich, garlicky base.
Notes
- Adjust cooking time carefully to achieve perfectly al dente pasta, which means the spaghetti should have a slight firmness when bitten.
- Prevent garlic from burning by maintaining medium heat and continuously stirring during the infusion process to develop a golden, nutty flavor without bitterness.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for a more intense and authentic flavor compared to pre-packaged varieties, which can taste less vibrant.
- Transform this dish into a protein-packed meal by adding grilled chicken, shrimp, or crispy pancetta for extra texture and nutritional value.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 70 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg