Ingredients
Scale
Gathering ingredients for this dish is like revisiting my grandmother’s garden, where simplicity meets freshness. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 8 ounces of spaghetti or your favorite pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a touch of heat)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Zest of 1 lemon (for a fresh, zesty finish)
Feel free to substitute the spaghetti with any pasta you have on hand—just like my mother, Elena, would do when improvisation was key in our bustling kitchen.
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. This is the perfect time to share stories with your loved ones, as my grandmother, Nonna Rosa, always did.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, sautéing for about 1 minute, until the garlic is fragrant and just beginning to color. This step always reminds me of the aromatic symphony in our family kitchen.
- Drain the pasta, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing it with the garlic-infused oil.
- Reduce the heat to low, then sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese, tossing the pasta until it’s coated. Add a splash of reserved pasta water to help the cheese melt into a creamy sauce.
- Stir in the fresh parsley and lemon zest, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. The lemon zest is my personal twist, a nod to the vibrant markets I explored in Spain.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan if desired. This dish is best enjoyed while it’s hot, much like the lively conversations around our family table.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International