Aglio e Olio Pasta

 

   Who's ready for a quick, easy, and inexpensive pasta dish?  Me!!! This dish sounds fancier than it really is!  In a nutshell: cook the pasta to package directions, saute minced or grated garlic in olive oil, add red pepper flakes, drain pasta, add to pot with garlic and red pepper.  Toss with fresh parsley and parmesan cheese.  Now that are garden is going strong, I use the parsley from there, but during the winter months, I will buy fresh parsley.  I always keep dried parsley on hand, just in case.  

    I should add feel free to use your favorite cut of pasta!  This dish is extremely versatile that I've made it with angel hair, rigatoni, and orzo.  This would also be great with tortellini.  Super simple and quick meal!!  

    This recipe feeds our family of six as a side with a little leftover.

Ingredients:

• 1 16 oz box of angel hair pasta or your favorite cut of pasta
• 1/2 c olive oil
• 2 cloves of garlic, grated or minced...your preference
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/4 c fresh parsley, chopped (dried parsley is just fine)
• 1/2 c parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain.  
2. Add 2 tbsp of olive oil to the pot used to cook the pasta.  Turn to medium heat.  Grate garlic over pot into the oil or add minced garlic.  Saute until slightly brown.  Add red pepper flakes.  Return pasta to the pot.  Add remaining olive oil, parsley, and mix well.  Add parmesan.  Mix again.  Serve!  This pasta is fantastic hot or cold!  

    I usually serve this with chicken, steaks, meatballs, or pork chops. Sometimes I'll add a scrambled egg and a little bacon for a carbonara breakfast.  

Pictured: Aglio e Olio Orzo with Quick and Easy Meatballs in Marinara Sauce