Effortless Garlic Oil Pasta at Home
Quick & Delicious Garlic Oil Pasta Using Oyster Sauce
Craving a delicious pasta but short on special sauces? This recipe offers a simple yet flavorful Garlic Oil Pasta, made with pantry staples like soy sauce and oyster sauce for a rich umami depth. Infused with aromatic garlic and a hint of spice, it’s a perfect dish for any occasion.
Main Ingredients
- Pasta (1 serving, approx. 100g)
- Garlic, 9 cloves
- Scallions, 1 stalk
- Dried chili flakes or dried chili, 4 pieces
- Parmesan cheese powder, 1/2 Tbsp
Sauce & Oil
- Oyster sauce, 1 Tbsp
- Soy sauce, 1 Tbsp
- Chicken stock, 1/2 Tbsp (or 50ml water)
- Olive oil, generously (approx. 3-4 Tbsp)
- Oyster sauce, 1 Tbsp
- Soy sauce, 1 Tbsp
- Chicken stock, 1/2 Tbsp (or 50ml water)
- Olive oil, generously (approx. 3-4 Tbsp)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start by preparing our ingredients. Thinly slice 5 of the garlic cloves and finely mince the remaining 4. Wash and finely chop the scallion. Crumble the 4 dried chili pieces. (Feel free to adjust the chili amount or omit it if you prefer less heat.)
Step 2
Bring a pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta (about 100g for one serving) and cook for 7-8 minutes, which is about 1-2 minutes less than the package instructions. We’ll finish cooking it in the pan.
Step 3
While the pasta is cooking, heat about 3-4 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan over medium-low heat. Add the thinly sliced garlic and gently fry until golden brown and crispy, creating garlic chips. Be careful not to burn the garlic; achieving a nice golden hue is key for flavor.
Step 4
Once the garlic chips are perfectly crisp, remove them from the oil and drain them on a paper towel. These will be our topping later. Leave the flavorful garlic-infused oil in the pan.
Step 5
Add the minced garlic and crumbled chili flakes to the same pan with the garlic oil, still over medium-low heat. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, ensuring the garlic doesn’t burn. You should start to smell the aromatic garlic and a hint of spice.
Step 6
Once the aromatics are fragrant, pour in 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce. Stir them together quickly. Let the sauces simmer for a moment to slightly caramelize, which will enhance their deep flavor.
Step 7
Add about half a cup (around 50ml) of the starchy pasta cooking water to the pan. This will help create a smooth, emulsified sauce that coats the pasta beautifully.
Step 8
Add the cooked pasta directly to the pan. Toss everything together for 1-2 minutes, ensuring the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce. Stir in 1/2 tablespoon of chicken stock (or 50ml of water) to adjust the seasoning and add moisture. (If you don’t have chicken stock, you can omit it or add a little more water.)
Step 9
Finally, stir in 1/2 tablespoon of Parmesan cheese powder. This will add a lovely cheesy richness to the pasta.
Step 10
Serve the pasta onto a plate, and generously garnish with the reserved crispy garlic chips and chopped scallions. This pasta is delightfully light and clean, with a pleasant subtle spiciness. While the combination of soy sauce and oyster sauce with pasta might sound unconventional, it’s a surprisingly delicious pairing that breaks all expectations! Enjoying classic garlic oil pasta is wonderful, but trying out creative combinations like this can be a truly special culinary adventure.
