Spaghetti aglio e olio facts for kids
Spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino
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| Course | Primo (Italian pasta course); main course | ||||||
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| Place of origin | Italy | ||||||
| Region or state | Campania, Calabria Perth | ||||||
| Main ingredients | Pasta (usually spaghetti), garlic, olive oil, parsley chilli flakes | ||||||
| Variations | Spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino (with chili pepper) | ||||||
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Spaghetti aglio e olio is a super simple and tasty Italian pasta dish. Its name means "spaghetti with garlic and oil" in Italian. This classic meal comes from the city of Naples in Italy. People love it because it's easy to make and uses ingredients you probably already have at home!
Contents
What is Spaghetti Aglio e Olio?
This popular dish is a big part of Neapolitan cuisine, which is the cooking style from Naples. It's famous for being quick to prepare. You don't need many fancy ingredients. Just a few basic items from your kitchen pantry work perfectly.
How to Make This Simple Pasta Dish
Making spaghetti aglio e olio is quite easy. Here are the main steps:
- First, you gently cook thin slices of garlic in olive oil. This gives the oil a wonderful garlic flavor.
- Sometimes, people add a pinch of red pepper flakes. If you add these, the dish is called spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino. Peperoncino means chili pepper in Italian.
- Next, you cook spaghetti in salted water until it's just right.
- After draining the pasta, you toss it with the garlic-infused oil.
- Finally, you often sprinkle fresh, chopped Italian parsley on top. This adds a nice green color and fresh taste.
Adding Cheese and Sauce
Some traditional recipes don't include cheese. However, many people like to add grated Parmesan or pecorino cheese. This is similar to how cheese is used in another Italian pasta dish called pasta allo scarpariello.
There are different ways to finish the dish:
- Some cooks suggest adding a little bit of the starchy water from cooking the pasta to the oil. This helps create a light sauce that coats the spaghetti.
- Other recipes simply say to pour the flavored oil directly onto the drained pasta. This method doesn't create a sauce, but the pasta still gets coated in the delicious oil.
Why This Dish is So Popular
Spaghetti aglio e olio is loved for many reasons:
- Simple Ingredients: It uses common items like pasta, garlic, and olive oil.
- Easy to Make: The steps are straightforward, perfect for a quick meal.
- Inexpensive: The ingredients are usually affordable.
- Long-Lasting: The main ingredients can be stored in your pantry for a long time.
This dish shows how delicious food doesn't always need a lot of complicated ingredients or steps.
See also
In Spanish: Spaghetti aglio e olio para niños
