Description
A quick, 20-minute weeknight dinner featuring silky emulsified pasta, fragrant garlic, and crunchy toasted breadcrumbs. This vegan-friendly Italian classic uses pantry staples for maximum flavor with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (divided)
- 8 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 12 oz (340g) spaghetti or linguine
- 2 cups (60g) stale rustic bread, cubed
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup (15g) fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- Salt (for pasta water and finishing)
- Flaky sea salt (for finishing)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Toss bread cubes with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of salt. Spread on a baking sheet and toast for 8-10 minutes until golden and crisp. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, checking 1 minute early. Reserve 1 cup of starchy pasta water before draining.
- In a large skillet, add the remaining 1/2 cup olive oil and sliced garlic. Start with cold oil and turn heat to medium-low. Add red pepper flakes.
- Cook garlic gently for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until pale gold and fragrant. Do not let it burn. Remove pan from heat if browning too quickly.
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet with the garlic oil. Pour in 1/2 cup reserved pasta water. Toss vigorously over medium heat to create a creamy emulsion. Add more pasta water as needed until sauce is glossy.
- Remove from heat. Stir in chopped parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt.
- Serve immediately, topped with toasted breadcrumbs and flaky sea salt.
Notes
Use stale bread for the best crunch. Start with cold oil to prevent burning the garlic. Reserve pasta water for emulsifying the sauce. Do not freeze leftovers as pasta texture suffers.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 10
Keywords: pasta aglio e olio, easy pasta recipe, vegan pasta, weeknight dinner, garlic pasta, toasted breadcrumbs, Italian comfort food, quick meals