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4.0 from 3 votes

3-Ingredient Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

You can whip up this traditional spaghetti aglio e olio recipe with just three ingredients! It's a simple, flavorful recipe that's the definition of traditional Italian cuisine.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 582 kcal
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. spaghetti imported from Italy
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil imported from Italy (Cilento Extra Virgin Olive Oil PDO)
  • 2 teaspoons minced or pressed garlic
  • Garnish: red pepper flakes; chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Cook spaghetti in salted water, according to package instructions (be sure to salt the water, because this is the only salt that will be added to the dish, since salt doesn’t dissolve well in the olive oil sauce).
  2. While the pasta is cooking, put olive oil and garlic in a small saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring until garlic becomes a pale gold, about 5-7 minutes (be careful that it doesn’t brown and burn).
  3. Toss the cooked, drained pasta with the olive oil sauce. Garnish with red pepper flakes and chopped fresh parsley, if desired.

Notes

  • Salt the pasta water! This is the only salt that will be added to the dish, since salt doesn’t dissolve well in the olive oil sauce, so be liberal with your seasoning!
  • Mince the garlic very finely (or use a garlic press). You don't want to bite into big chunks of garlic in your spaghetti.
  • After tossing the pasta with the infused olive oil, feel free to drizzle some extra olive oil over top of the dish before serving. Start with less, and add more to taste!
  • Garnish! Dried red pepper flakes and chopped fresh parsley are traditional additions to a simple aglio olio recipe; however, our family loves to include freshly-grated Parmigiano-Reggiano PDO cheese as well!

Nutrition Information

Serving 1/4 of the recipe Calories 582kcal (29%) Carbohydrates 85g (28%) Protein 14g (28%) Fat 19g (29%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Sodium 7mg (0%) Potassium 252mg (7%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 3g (6%) Vitamin C 0.5mg (1%) Calcium 27mg (3%) Iron 1.6mg (9%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 582

% Daily Value*

Serving 1/4 of the recipe
Calories 582kcal 29%
Carbohydrates 85g 28%
Protein 14g 28%
Fat 19g 29%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Sodium 7mg 0%
Potassium 252mg 5%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 3g 6%
Vitamin C 0.5mg 1%
Calcium 27mg 3%
Iron 1.6mg 9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.