Garlic Butter Pasta

Italian

Easy

Main Course

Spaghetti coated in creamy garlic butter sauce topped with Parmesan and parsley

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Garlic Butter Pasta
– Simple, Creamy And Utterly Delicious

Name: ~Garlic Butter Pasta~ – Simple, Creamy And Utterly Delicious
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: For the pasta:; 225 gm Dried pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or any long pasta); 1 tsp Salt (for pasta water); 1 cup Reserved pasta water; For the garlic butter sauce:; 4 tbsp Unsalted butter (divided), at room temperature; 3 Garlic cloves (thinly sliced), medium-sized; ¼ tsp Ground black pepper; to taste Salt; For finishing:; ½ cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated); ¼ cup Fresh parsley (chopped); 1 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil (optional); Optional additions:; ¼ tsp Red pepper flakes; ½ tsp Lemon zest; 2 tbsp Fresh basil, chopped; Extra garlic

20 mins

Cooking Time

Easy

Difficulty

Ingredients

Veg + Egg

Diet

Taking just a handful of pantry staples, garlic butter pasta is a minimalist recipe made with butter, sliced garlic, and al dente pasta, all mixed with starchy pasta water. The dish is made better with fresh parsley towards the end.

Ingredients

UNITSIngredients

For the pasta:

225 gmDried pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or any long pasta)

1 tspSalt (for pasta water)

1 cupReserved pasta water

For the garlic butter sauce:

4 tbspUnsalted butter (divided), at room temperature

3Garlic cloves (thinly sliced), medium-sized

¼ tspGround black pepper

to tasteSalt

For finishing:

½ cupParmesan cheese (freshly grated)

¼ cupFresh parsley (chopped)

1 tbspExtra virgin olive oil (optional)

Optional additions:

¼ tspRed pepper flakes

½ tspLemon zest

2 tbspFresh basil, chopped

Extra garlic

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Follow
Directions

Description - Step 1

Boil the pasta

Fill a medium to large saucepot with water and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. Add salt generously – use approximately 1 tablespoon of salt for every 4-6 cups of water. Add the pasta and stir immediately to prevent sticking. Cook the pasta until al dente – typically 8-10 minutes for dried pasta. Once the pasta is cooked, drain it, but reserve some pasta water for later.

Description - Step 2

Sauté the garlic

While the pasta is cooking, prepare the garlic butter sauce. Peel and thinly slice the garlic cloves. In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted and begins to foam slightly, add the sliced garlic. Sauté for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant and just barely beginning to turn golden at the edges. If it starts browning too quickly, reduce the heat immediately. Add the pepper and stir for 10 seconds.

Description - Step 3

Combine pasta with the sauce base

The moment your pasta is drained, immediately transfer it to the skillet with the garlic butter. The pasta should be hot when it hits the pan. Add about ⅓ to ½ cup of the reserved pasta water to the skillet. Using kitchen tongs or two forks, start tossing the pasta vigorously over medium heat. Keep tossing for 1-2 minutes – you'll notice the liquid beginning to thicken and cling to the pasta. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and continue tossing until the butter melts and is incorporated into the sauce.

Description - Step 4

Add cheese and herbs

Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese in two or three additions, tossing continuously between each addition. The residual heat will melt the cheese while the tossing motion incorporates it into the sauce, making it creamier. Add the chopped fresh parsley and toss again. Taste the pasta and adjust the seasoning with salt if needed. Add black pepper to taste.

Step 1

Boil the pasta

10-12 Minutes

Step 2

Sauté the garlic

2-3 Minutes

Step 3

Combine pasta with the sauce base

3-4 Minutes

Step 4

Add cheese and herbs

2 Minutes

Plate it up!

Plating Instructions

Transfer the pasta to a large, warmed shallow bowl. For individual servings, twirl portions of pasta using tongs or a large fork into neat nests in each bowl.

Pairing Instructions

Serve alongside grilled chicken breast, pan-seared fish, or sautéed shrimp, for a complete meal.

Garnishing Instructions

Finish each serving with a sprinkling of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and scatter fresh parsley over the top of the garlic butter pasta.