Olive Oil Spaghetti Recipe
Here is a recipe for Spaghetti with Garlic and Olive Oil
Ingredients:
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 8 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente.
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Remove the skillet from the heat.
- When the pasta is done, reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta and add it to the skillet with the garlic oil.
- Toss well to coat the spaghetti with the oil.
- If needed, Add some reserved pasta water to moisten the pasta.
- Season with salt and black pepper.
- Add the parsley and Parmesan cheese and toss well.
What Is Al Dente?
Al dente is an Italian term that means “to the tooth.” When you bite into it, it refers to the tender, firm, and chewy texture of cooked pasta. The pasta should have a little resistance when you bite into it, which is a happy medium between hard, uncooked pasta and mushy, overcooked noodles.
How To Know When Spaghetti Is Al Dente
The best way to test if pasta is al dente is to take a bite. Give the pasta a taste about two minutes before the time expires on the package directions. If it’s tender enough to chew but still contains a bit of a bite, you’ve reached al dente. If it’s too firm for your liking, continue cooking until it reaches the preferred level of doneness.
Another way to tell if pasta is al dente is to insert a fork into the center of the pasta and give it a gentle twirl. If the pasta is cooked through, it will be slightly firm to the bite and have a somewhat chewy texture.
Some chefs say if there’s a tiny white dot in the pasta’s center, it’s al dente. While others say if the dot is gone, then that means it’s al dente.
