Garlic Pasta Recipe (Garlic Butter Pasta)

Ingredients

Cook Spaghetti

• 250 grams spaghetti
• 5 cups water
• 1.5 teaspoons salt or add as required

More Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter – unsalted
• 2 tablespoons garlic – minced
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika – * read point no 4 in the notes section for substitutes
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper (black pepper powder)
• 3 tablespoons parsley – chopped
• 3 tablespoons basil – chopped
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• few pinches of salt – if needed, optional

Steps

Cooking Pasta

1. Bring the salted water to a boil in a pot or saucepan.
2. Carefully lower the spaghetti into the boiling water. Do not break the strands before putting them in; simply leave them in the water.
3. As cooking begins to soften the strands, use pasta tongs to immerse their tops in the water.
4. Cook the spaghetti to al dente, or just about cooked with a bite left in the center.
5. Drain the cooked pasta water through a strainer, keeping ½ cup of pasta water in reserve. Put the spaghetti aside.

Make Garlic Butter Sauce

1. Into a sauté pan or frying pan, put the extra virgin olive oil and butter.
2. Let the butter melt over low heat.
3. The minced garlic goes in once the butter has melted.
4. By stirring, distribute the garlic evenly through the butter and olive oil mixture.
5. Cook the garlic to golden over low heat.
6. Give the garlic an occasional stir as it cooks.
7. Watch the garlic as it first becomes light golden: from that point, it can burn or become too brown in an instant.
8. After the garlic becomes light golden, stir often until it starts to become golden. Turn off the heat when it is golden.
9. Transfer the pan from the stove to the countertop.
10. Put in both spices: the smoked paprika and black pepper.
11. Stir to combine them; the residual heat of the fats will cook the spices.
12. Check that the spices are mixed evenly through the garlic, olive oil and butter.
13. Add the reserved pasta water, then return the pan to the stovetop and begin heating. Remember that this reserved water already contains salt.
14. Simmer for about 1½ to 2 minutes over medium-low heat, or until the sauce is slightly thickened and well emulsified.

Make Garlic Pasta

1. Use pasta tongs to put the spaghetti into the prepared garlic butter sauce in the pan.
2. Use the pasta tongs to toss and mix the spaghetti well. Allow 2 to 3 minutes of cooking, or until all the liquids have dried up.
3. Add the lemon juice and stir it in. You can reduce it or leave it out altogether to suit your taste.
4. Finish the additions with the chopped parsley and basil.
5. Taste the Garlic Butter Pasta after mixing again and turning off the heat. Add a few pinches of salt if needed.
6. Offer the Garlic Pasta hot or warm, with an optional garnish of vegetarian parmesan cheese, basil or parsley.