Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
Spaghetti, italian flat-leaf parsley, chopped and parmesan cheese (optional) come together in this vegetarian — 65 minutes, 7 steps, and the kind of result worth repeating. Scroll down for the ingredient checklist, a serving scaler and unit converter, and the method broken into 7 steps.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and large pot. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (3)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and salt it generously. Add the spaghetti and cook until just shy of al dente, about 1 minute less than the package directs.
- While the pasta cooks, warm the olive oil in a wide skillet over medium-low heat and add the thinly sliced garlic.
- Cook the garlic slowly, stirring often, for 3 to 4 minutes until pale gold and fragrant; do not let it brown or it will turn bitter. Stir in the red pepper flakes for the last 30 seconds.
- Before draining, ladle out about a cup of the starchy pasta water and reserve it.
- Using tongs, transfer the spaghetti directly into the skillet along with a splash of the reserved pasta water, then toss vigorously over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes so the oil and water emulsify into a glossy sauce that coats the strands.
- Add more pasta water a little at a time if the pasta looks dry, then remove from the heat and toss through most of the chopped parsley.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, divide among four bowls, and finish with the remaining parsley and a little grated parmesan if desired. Serve immediately.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Large pot · Saucepan
Ingredient substitutions
- Parmesan
- pecorino · grana padano · aged asiago
Tips & common questions
How long does Spaghetti Aglio e Olio take to make?
About 65 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 8 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of parmesan?
Try pecorino. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Spaghetti Aglio e Olio vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio is an original recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Spaghetti aglio e olio KB.jpg by Bairuilong, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.