Lower-Oil Healthy Aglio e Olio Pasta
Basic Pasta, Aglio e Olio, Easy Homemade Pasta
Find traditional Aglio e Olio a bit too oily? This recipe reduces the amount of olive oil while still achieving a rich flavor profile using just salt. Enjoy a simple yet incredibly flavorful Aglio e Olio right in your own kitchen!
Main Ingredients- Spaghetti 1.5 servings (approx. 150g)
- 4 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1/3 Onion
- 1 Korean Green Chili (Cheongyang Pepper)
- 10 cloves Garlic
- 1/2 bunch Scallions (Green Onions)
- 2 tsp Salt
- 10 Shrimp (cocktail size)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start by preparing the ingredients. Take about 10 large cocktail shrimp, rinse them, and pat them dry. Thinly slice 1/3 of an onion. Mince 1 Korean green chili (Cheongyang pepper) very finely. Slice 10 cloves of garlic thinly into rounds (this is called ‘편썰기’ or ‘slicing thinly’). Cut half a bunch of scallions into 5cm lengths.
Step 2
Now, let’s cook the pasta. Prepare about 1.5 servings (around 150g) of spaghetti. Bring a generous pot of water to a boil, add a pinch of salt, and start cooking the pasta. Since it takes about 10 minutes to cook, it’s best to start boiling the pasta about 8 minutes before you plan to start stir-frying the other ingredients.
Step 3
Get another pan ready and pour in 4 tablespoons of olive oil. Tilt the pan slightly so the thinly sliced garlic cloves are submerged in the oil. Gently heat this over low to medium-low heat, allowing the garlic to infuse the oil with its aroma. This is how you make garlic oil. Be careful not to burn the garlic; cook it until it’s fragrant and lightly golden.
Step 4
After about 1 minute of infusing the oil with garlic, add the minced Korean green chili, sliced onion, and the prepared shrimp to the pan. Sauté these ingredients together until the shrimp turns pink and opaque and the vegetables have softened slightly.
Step 5
Transfer the cooked spaghetti directly from the boiling water into the pan with the sautéed ingredients. Add 1.5 teaspoons of salt and toss everything together well, cooking for another 1-2 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Stir in the cut scallions at the end and mix briefly. If the pasta seems too dry, you can add a little more olive oil or a ladleful of the starchy pasta water to achieve a smoother consistency.
Step 6
This Aglio e Olio, seasoned solely with salt, is wonderfully flavorful. The spiciness of the Korean green chili combined with the rich olive oil creates a delicious, subtly spicy, and smooth taste. Serve on a plate and optionally garnish with parsley flakes or grated Parmesan cheese. (Both garnishes are completely optional.)
