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Spaghetti Aglio e Olio - easy delicious pasta with shrimp, olive oil, garlic and chili flakes. This aglio e olio recipe is as good as Italian restaurants!
Aglio E Olio
Aglio e olio is one of the most basic and easiest Italian recipes.
As the name suggests, the pasta is made with garlic (aglio) and oil (olio). The recipe originated from Naples and it’s very popular worldwide.
The two key ingredients are olive oil and garlic. Aglio e olio spaghetti is also speckled with red pepper flakes, which gives the recipe a subtle heat.
The oil, garlic and heat transform this simple pasta dish into a delicious and restaurant-quality meal that you can make at home!
Ingredients
I made the recipe with shrimp. Here are the list of ingredients:
- Spaghetti
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Garlic
- Tiger prawn or shrimp
- Red pepper flakes
- Parsley
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt
- Water
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
How To Make This Recipe
Step 1: Bring a pot of water to boil. Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside. Save 3 tablespoons of the pasta water.
Step 2: Heat a skillet on medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds, add the shrimp, chili flakes and salt. Cook the shrimp until both sides turn white, then add the spaghetti and water into the skillet. Stir to combine well.
Step 3: Add the parsley into the skillet, stir to distribute well. Turn off the heat and add the Parmesan cheese. Dish out and serve immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is Italian for spaghetti with garlic and oil. You can find the basic recipe on Serious Eats.
No, using vegetable will result in a bland pasta. Extra-virgin olive oil is recommended for this dish.
You can never go wrong with plump, fresh, and juicy tiger prawn on your pasta.
However, you can always use regular shrimp. I prefer shelled and deveined shrimp or tiger prawn, with tails on.
Yes, you sure can use chicken instead of shrimp as the protein of choice.
This recipe has 665 calories per serving.
What To Serve With Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
This meal is best served as a main entree with side dishes. For a wholesome Italian meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
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Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
Ingredients
- water, for boiling
- 8 oz. spaghetti
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 oz. tiger prawn , or medium-sized shrimp, shelled, deveined, tail-on
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt , or to taste
- 1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley
- 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside, reserving 3 tablespoons of the pasta water.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds, then add the shrimp, chili flakes, and salt. Cook the shrimp until both sides turn white, then add the spaghetti and reserved pasta water to the skillet. Stir to combine well.
- Add the parsley to the skillet and stir to distribute it evenly. Turn off the heat and add the Parmesan cheese. Dish out and serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Using vegetable will result in a bland pasta. Extra-virgin olive oil is recommended for this dish.
- You can use chicken instead of shrimp as the protein of choice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I would love to try this wonderful recipe, but I don’t understand the high sodium content. Is it the Parmesan cheese?
I think so. I used a program to generate the label. I use very little salt in the recipe.
Thank you for sharing the lovely dish I reall like it
Awesome, I am happy that you love my spaghetti aglio e olio with shrimp.
Well, thanks goodness I came across of your old post…. the Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Shrimp! I love pastas and shrimps!!! This recipe sounded fabulous. So tonight I’m gonna be making this.By the way I checked out your of all other recipesand OMG your recipes are killing me…Lol, all look so delicious. I will try them soon.
Again Thank you. -Yvonne
Thanks Yvonne. :)
I can’t get the red pepper chilli flakes. Is paprika flakes the same?
Paprika is spicier but you can try.
I tried this recipe for our dinner and it come out so lovely. Thanks for sharing bee.
Thanks Tonette for your sweet comment. Glad that you liked this spaghetti aglio e olio recipe.
hhhmm.. sedapnyee..
saya suka spageti..
A suggestion, try adding some anchovy filets to the warmed oil, they will break down and dissolve into the sauce. This will provide the Umami effect of asian dishes and deepens the flavor. Also, allow a little more time for the garlic to flavor the oil, or mince it very fine. Another similar Italian dish is made just with anchovies and oil, no garlic. Usually oil based pasta dishes are made with extremely fine macaroni, Angel Hair or Fidellini.
In Italian Cuisine, with all Seafood Pasta dishes, the purists do not use Parmesan Cheese. I know as I have worked as a Chef in a lot of Italian Restaurants. On this there is no compromise. I suggest a handful of Blanched Snow Peas to round off this lovely dish. Other than that the dish is tasty. I have cooked it myself for years. And oh, 125 gms. of any dry white wine (Vino Bianco) gives it a touch of class. Bon appettito. Ciao
Its looks so yummy….!!! The combination of Spaghetti and Shrimp is really awesome. Just love it….!!
Thank you for the lovely recipe.