School Night Supper {Spaghetti Aglio E Olio}

This is such a quick and easy dinner, and my boys have been absolutely loving it. I think using high quality ingredients is key here – I do grate the Parm, I use the recommended spaghetti and I buy a head of fresh garlic to work with. We were also intrigued by the story behind the meal…

It’s sometimes called Midnight Spaghetti because chefs make it for a quick meal at midnight when they get home from work.

Spaghetti Aglio E Olio

From Barefoot Contessa How Easy Is That

  • Kosher salt
  • 1 pound dried spaghetti, such as DeCecco
  • 1/3 cup good olive oil (I cut this in half!)
  • 8 large garlic cloves, cut into thin slivers
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons of salt and the pasta and cook according to the directions on the package. Set aside 1 1/2 cups of the pasta cooking water before you drain the pasta.
  2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a pot large enough to hold the pasta, such as a 12-inch saute pan or a large, shallow pot. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until it just begins to turn golden on the edges-don’t overcook it! Add the red pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds more. Carefully add the reserved pasta-cooking water to the garlic and oil and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, add 1 teaspoon of salt, and simmer for about 5 minutes, until the liquid is reduced by about a third.
  3. Add the drained pasta to the garlic sauce and toss. Off the heat, add the parsley and Parmesan and toss well. Allow the pasta to rest off the heat for 5 minutes for the sauce to be absorbed. Taste for seasoning and serve warm with extra Parmesan on the side.

I hope you enjoyed a wonderful weekend!

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4 thoughts on “School Night Supper {Spaghetti Aglio E Olio}

  1. This is such a classic Italian spaghetti dish I remember my grandmother making. Another easy one to try is Giada’s Lemon Spaghetti. It’s another quick spaghetti dish that your family may enjoy especially in the summer.

  2. This is exactly how I make it except I squeeze fresh lemon juice over it! Delicious recipe and I love the story behind it!

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