Spaghetti aglio e olio

Spaghetti aglio e olio is a traditional Italian pasta dish coming from Naples. The dish is made by lightly sauteeing minced or pressed garlic in olive oil, sometimes with the addition of dried red chili flakes, and tossing with spaghetti.

Ingredients: serves 2-3

1 pound uncooked spaghetti (or best make your own fresh pasta)

6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

1 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain and transfer to a pasta bowl.
2. Combine garlic and olive oil in a cold skillet. Cook over medium heat to slowly toast garlic, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low when olive oil begins to bubble. Cook and stir until garlic is golden brown, about another 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
3. Stir red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt into the pasta. Pour in olive oil and garlic, and sprinkle on Italian parsley and half of the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese; stir until combined.
4. Serve pasta topped with the remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.