When I think of pasta, spaghetti is the first thing that comes to mind. And when I think of spaghetti, tomato sauce is the first thing that comes to mind. But then, I think of Aglio Olio e Peperoncino. It’s a versatile recipe that can be made for any occasion. It’s the pasta that feeds everyone and makes everyone happy. And most importantly, it’s the pasta that you can make when your pantry is empty.
If you ask any Italian about this pasta, they’ll likely recall memories of an unexpected visit and an improvised meal. They might remember a late-night “spaghettata” after a hangout with friends or the everyday pasta that they make when they don’t have time or don’t want to cook anything too sophisticated.
When your pantry is empty and your fridge is lonely, you still have a bottle of olive oil, a clove of garlic that you’ve forgotten somewhere, some dried chili pepper or powder, and of course, spaghetti!
Like any simple recipe, the quality of the ingredients and the quality of execution are essential. Here, we’re talking about extra virgin olive oil and pasta al dente.
Ingredients for 4 people:
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 chili pepper
- 400g spaghetti
Method(watch the video):
- In a pan, warm up the oil along with the crushed cloves of garlic and the chili pepper to taste. Just before the garlic turns brown, turn off the heat to avoid a bitter taste.
- In a large pot of boiling water, add a handful of salt and cook the spaghetti. Strain the pasta one minute before the time indicated on the package. Then, add the pasta to the pan with the hot olive oil and sauté for a minute. Add a cup of the pasta water as the sauce reduces slightly.
- There are various versions and opinions on the final garnish. Remember, this is a pasta made with what you have at home, so feel free to add fresh parsley or Parmesan cheese on top, to your taste.
An honorable mention goes to the spicy mix made in Tuscany by a friend. Simply add two teaspoons of this dry mix to the oil, and the job is done. We tried it last weekend, and it was very surprising and hot!
Buon Appetito!