Midnight Pasta Aglio e Olio
There exists a certain magic in the late hours, when the world narrows to a single pool of kitchen light and the simplest ingredients become alchemy. This is the dish of writers, insomniacs, those who keep unusual hours and find themselves suddenly, desperately hungry at midnight.
Aglio e olio—garlic and oil—is the foundation of Italian cucina povera, peasant cooking elevated through restraint. It asks nothing of you but attention. The garlic must be sliced with precision, cooked only until it whispers of gold. Too much heat and it turns bitter, acrid. Patience here is everything.
This is solitary food, made for one, eaten straight from the pan if you're honest. There's romance in that simplicity. No pretence, no performance. Just the quiet satisfaction of feeding yourself well when the rest of the city sleeps.
Ingredients
- 100g spaghetti or linguine
- 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- ½ teaspoon dried chilli flakes
- 80ml extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- Parmigiano-Reggiano, for grating
- Sea salt
Method
- Bring a pot of heavily salted water to boil. The water should taste of the sea. Add pasta and cook 1 minute less than package directions.
- Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large frying pan over low heat. Add sliced garlic and cook gently, stirring frequently, until just beginning to turn golden—about 3 minutes. Do not rush this.
- Add chilli flakes and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Remove pan from heat immediately to prevent burning.
- Reserve one cup of pasta cooking water, then drain pasta. Return pan to low heat.
- Add pasta directly to the garlic oil along with half the reserved pasta water. Toss vigorously, adding more water as needed, until sauce emulsifies and coats each strand—about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat, add parsley, and toss again. The pasta should be glossy, almost creamy, despite containing no cream. This is the magic of pasta water and emulsification. Serve immediately with a generous grating of Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Nutritional Information
| Per Serving | Amount |
|---|---|
| Energy | 520 kcal |
| Protein | 15g |
| Carbohydrates | 65g |
| Fat | 22g |
