06 September 2023 , 14:31
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Often quick and simple to make, pasta is the perfect mid-week meal. Whether you have your go-to jar of sauce, or you lovingly prepare everything from scratch, pasta is versatile and comforting. It can even taste delicious when your fridge is looking a bit bare, and you only have a couple of ingredients to hand.
Phil Bianchi, food and flavour expert and founder of The Gift of Oil, claims there are only two ingredients required for the ultimate pasta dish: garlic and olive oil. Sharing a quick and easy recipe with only three ingredients with the Express, Phil demonstrates how you need minimal time and money to create maximum flavours.
"When it comes to making a spaghetti dish, you don't need a lot of ingredients to make it taste good," he says. "More often than not, by just combining simple flavours, such as the garlic and olive oil in this recipe, you'll be able to create a dish that's restaurant quality in the comfort of your home! The great thing about this simple recipe is that most people will have these ingredients in their homes, so it's a great meal to make if you’re looking to save time and unsure of what to make for your evening meal."
Ingredients
- Spaghetti
- Olive oil
- Garlic cloves (one per serving)
You can adjust the quantities depending on the number of servings required, using a measure of 75g dried spaghetti per person. If using fresh spaghetti, change this to 120g of pasta per person.
This quick meal takes just minutes to make from start to finish so it's best to prepare the garlic before cooking the pasta. Peel and dice the garlic into very small chunks, or grate for a smoother texture.
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Next, boil the pasta in hot salted water for 10 minutes until cooked. You want it slightly al-dente for an authentic feel.
Then in a separate pan, heat a generous glug of olive oil and transfer the pasta into it, with a splash of some of the pasta water in it too. This should only be a few tablespoons so be careful not to transfer too much of the liquid into the oiled pan.
Add in the garlic and stir the ingredients together to coat the spaghetti for a few minutes, making sure that the garlic softens, before serving hot from the stove.
If you want to take this dish to the next level, Phil recommends adding a drizzle of infused olive oil, butter, or fresh parsley to top the simple bowl. Otherwise, enjoy this quick and easy pasta dish.
What’s your favourite way to eat pasta? Let us know in the comments.