Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz spaghetti or linguine
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional for a bit of heat)
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and then drain the pasta.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the garlic slices and sauté until golden and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Be careful not to burn the garlic as it can turn bitter.
- Add the red pepper flakes to the skillet and stir for an additional 30 seconds.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat the noodles in the garlicky olive oil. If the pasta seems dry, add a bit of the reserved pasta water until the desired consistency is reached.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and juice. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately, savoring each bite and the memories it evokes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International