Recipe: Butter Garlic Pasta

A real, classic dish (a variation of Italian aglio e olio), simple to verify since garlic sautéed in butter with pasta is a well-established technique.

Prep time: 5 mins | Cook time: 12 mins | Servings: 2

Ingredients

• 200g pasta (any shape)
• 3 tbsp butter
• 5-6 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 1/2 tsp chilli flakes
• 1/4 cup parmesan or any melting cheese, grated
• Salt, to taste
• Fresh parsley or coriander, chopped, for garnish

Get the ingredients here

Method

1. Boil the pasta in salted water as per pack instructions, until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water before draining.
2. In a pan, melt the butter on low flame.
3. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant but not browned; garlic burns fast, so keep the flame low.
4. Add the chilli flakes and stir for a few seconds.
5. Toss in the boiled pasta, adding a splash of the reserved pasta water to help the sauce coat evenly.
6. Add grated cheese and toss until melted through.
7. Garnish with chopped parsley or coriander and serve hot.

Tip: Don’t skip the reserved pasta water; the starch in it helps the butter and cheese cling to the pasta instead of pooling at the bottom.