Garlicky Italian Pasta Recipes

SPAGHETTI WITH OIL AND GARLIC (AGLIO E OLIO)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of cold water to a boil over high heat, then salt it generously. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally until al dente, tender but not mushy, about 8 minutes.
• While the pasta cooks, combine the garlic, olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and the red pepper flakes in a large skillet and warm over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the garlic softens and turns golden, about 8 minutes.
• Drain the pasta in a colander set in the sink, reserving about a 1/4 cup of the cooking water. Add the pasta and the reserved water to the garlic mixture. Mix well. Add the parsley and lemon zest (if using). Adjust seasoning, to taste. Transfer to a large serving bowl or divide amongst 4 to 6 dishes. Serve topped with grated cheese, if desired.

SPAGHETTI AGLIO E OLIO (GARLIC SPAGHETTI)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Boil a large pot of water. Add salt when it has boiled and add the pasta. Once the pasta has cooked to al dente (look at the package instructions), reserve a cup of the pasta water for the sauce and drain.
• Slice the garlic into thin slivers (as thin as you can).
• Mince the parsley.
• Add the olive oil to a large pot (the same one you cooked the pasta in, if you wish) and cook on medium heat. Add half of the garlic and saute until just fragrant. Then add in the salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and chopped parsley. Cook for another minute. Just be careful not to overcook or over toast the garlic. This can lessen the garlic flavor and can make the garlic taste bitter.
• Add half a cup of the reserved pasta water, the pasta and the remaining garlic. Toss and cook for another 2 minutes or until it is all heated through. Add in more pasta water if needed.
• Add the parmesan cheese and more salt to taste. Serve immediately.

PASTA WITH PROSCIUTTO AND WHOLE GARLIC

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• Combine the oil, garlic, and ham in a medium to large skillet over medium-low heat. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until the garlic becomes deep golden, nearly brown, all over, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Core and chop the plum tomatoes (or crush the canned tomatoes) and add them, along with salt and pepper, to the skillet. Stir and simmer while you salt the boiling water and cook the pasta.
• Drain the pasta when it is tender but firm, reserving a little of the cooking water and adding it to the sauce if it appears dry (quite likely if you used fresh tomatoes). Toss the pasta with the sauce and most of the basil, along with the cheese. Mince the remaining basil, garnish the pasta with it, and serve.

MIDNIGHT PASTA WITH ROASTED GARLIC, OLIVE OIL AND CHILE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut off the top 1/4 inch of the head of garlic to expose the top of the cloves, then place on a piece of foil, cut-side up. Sprinkle exposed cloves with salt, then drizzle with 1 teaspoon oil. Wrap the garlic in the foil and roast until soft and golden brown, 40 to 50 minutes.
• When you're ready to make the pasta, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Finely chop the parsley leaves. Add pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta.
• While the pasta cooks, in a large Dutch oven or skillet, heat the remaining 1/2 cup oil over medium heat. Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves into the oil and cook, breaking them up with your spoon, until very fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the red-pepper flakes and a few generous grinds of pepper. Remove the pan from the heat to infuse the oil while the pasta finishes cooking.
• When the pasta's done, heat the garlic oil over medium, then add the cooked pasta, 1/2 cup reserved pasta water and the parsley, and simmer, tossing constantly and adding more pasta water as needed, until the pasta is glossed with sauce.
• Serve with more red-pepper flakes, black pepper and Parmesan.

GARLICKY ITALIAN PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente; drain, reserving 1/4 cup pasta cooking water.
• While the pasta is cooking, heat a medium pot over medium-high. Add olive oil and garlic; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add spinach, peas, and brisket. Cover; cook 3 minutes. Stir in pasta and Parmesan; add reserved pasta cooking water to loosen, if needed. Season with salt and pepper. Top with lemon zest before serving.

GARLIC PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain.
• In a skillet, saute garlic in oil on low heat, just hot enough to make the garlic sizzle; about 10 to 15 minutes. Season with basil, oregano, parsley, and crushed red pepper, and remove from heat.
• In a large bowl, toss cooked pasta with garlic and herb mixture, and let sit for 3 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan, and serve.

GARLIC PASTA

Steps:

• Separate garlic into cloves; remove papery skins. In a large skillet over low heat, saute garlic in oil for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the heat; add parsley, oregano, salt and pepper. Toss with pasta serve immediately.

CREAMY GARLIC ITALIAN DRESSING

Steps:

• In a 1 quart container combine the corn oil, garlic and sugar. Shake well. Add vinegar and shake well again.
• Fill the container the rest of the way with Italian dressing, leaving just enough room to add one egg. Add the egg, and blend with a blender or hand-held blender for about 2 minutes.