Make Pasta with Garlic and Oil
A quick and easy dinner…
I am a fan of dinners that are fast and simple to make. After coming home from work, my enthusiasm for cooking is nonexistent. Leftovers and fast prep meals are my go-tos during the work week. One such meal that I really enjoy is Pasta with Garlic and Oil.
This recipe comes from the cookbook The Science of Good Cooking: Master 50 Simple Concepts to Enjoy a Lifetime of Success in the Kitchen by American’s Test Kitchen. Those familiar with American’s Test Kitchen, will know to expect a recipe that is finely tuned with thoughtful justifications for each step. Below is my casual, single-serving version of this recipe. If you want to try a quick version of this dish, with pantry ingredients and streamlined procedures, follow the directions below. Alternatively, if you’d like to include fresh ingredients or make multiple servings, check out the cookbook which is available in both print and digital editions.
How to make the pasta
Ingredients
1 serving of spaghetti
dash of salt
3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves (1½ teaspoons) minced garlic
1 Tablespoon minced parsley
½ teaspoon lemon juice
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
grated Parmesan cheese to taste
Directions
Prepare a single serving of spaghetti.
While spaghetti is cooking, combine salt, garlic, parsley, lemon juice, red pepper flakes and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a small bowl.
Before draining the spaghetti, reserve 1/3 cup of the cooking water. Add 2 Tablespoons of that water to the herb mixture and combine.
Drain the spaghetti, but leave it in the pot. Add the remaining reserved cooking water, 2 Tablespoons of olive oil and the herb mixture. Toss the spaghetti and herbs to combine.
Drain the spaghetti a final time and plate. Add Parmesan cheese to taste.
Notes
After making this recipe several times, I began to eyeball my ingredients to avoid dirtying more dishes. While my proportions might not always be exact, I have found that the pasta is always tasty.
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