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Important question: have you ever seen the movie Chef? If not, get ON it! The food in that film is absolutely incredible and the movie itself is hilarious, entertaining, creative, and just so much fun. Today I'm sharing on of the most well known recipes in the movie, pasta aglio e olio (aka pasta with garlic and oil).
I'm also particularly found of the molten chocolate cake scene and based a whole recipe on it 🤣. Oh and I havn't even mentioned the grilled cheese. Just trust me, watch this movie. But maybe not on an empty stomach.
TBH the main reason the recipes in this film are so mouth watering is because they're straight from Roy Choi. He's known for pretty much starting the gourmet food truck movement and is a big proponent of delicious food that isn't too fancy. Pasta aglio e olio is one of his staples. Choi has said makes this dish every Sunday, calling it “transcendence through a handful of humble ingredients”.
So. On. Point. Pasta aglio e olio is ridiculously simple and yet AMAZINGLY delicious. It's fresh, light, and comforting at the same time. Oh and it takes 20 minutes start to finish 😎.
Your list of ingredients: spaghetti, olive oil, fresh garlic cloves, parsley, red pepper flakes, and some lemon juice. Parmesan cheese optional but I love me some cheese so obviously.
That's literally it.
Watch Chef, and try this pasta aglio e olio. Trust.
Pasta Aglio e Olio (Garlic and Oil Chef Style!)
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
A simple, easy, quick, and absolutely delicious pasta dish with garlic, olive oil, parsley, lemon juice, and parmesan inspired by the movie Chef.
Ingredients
- 1 lb spaghetti
- 10-12 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced (I used a mandolin)
- 1-2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes (more or less depending on how hot you want it!)
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- ½ cup parsley, finely chopped
- Coarse salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti to al dente according to box instructions. Save ¼ cup of the pasta water. Drain.
- While spaghetti is cooking, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until just shimmering. Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until light brown and tender, turning gold around the edges. Make sure not to burn it!
- Stir in crushed red pepper flakes and reduce heat to low. Add pasta and reserved pasta water. If pasta is too watery, cook down for 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in lemon juice and parsley. Remove from heat. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Plate as desired. Garnish with parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
Gerald Damora says
add salt to the boiling water that cooks the pasta and no further salt when mixture is all together with oil and pasta add 2 tablespoons of capers.
Optional
Instead of using 1/4 cup of pasta water use instead clear chicken stock👍❤👍
Miles B Sanders says
The pasta water is not used for seasoning purposes, it’s to help the “sauce” bind better to the noodles.
Ruvi Garcia says
I made this recipe for lunch today. I added smoke salmon and tomatoes. Loved it!! So delish.
Doug says
Love this recipe ... doesn’t the original call for 1 cup oil? So good!!!
Zahir says
I would sprinkle some bacon too