Recipe: Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

Recreate this 5-star Italian recipe by international culinary expert Mariko Amekodommo at home for your loved ones.

"It is easy to create a delicious and elegant meal at home that will impress all the amazing people in your life," says Mariko.

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

This is one of the most ordered fine-dining dishes around the world and it's also the easiest to make.

The key lies in choosing high quality parmesan cheese.

If you want to get extra fancy, serve with a simple rucola salad with a drizzle of olive oil, balsamic, salt and pepper and extra shavings of parmesan.

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 500 gm uncooked spaghetti
• 6 cloves of garlic, chopped
• ½ cup olive oil
• ½ tsp red chilli flakes
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• ¼ cup chopped Italian basil
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese

Method

• Boil the pasta in a large pot of water with 1 tbsp of salt.
  Cook for 12 minutes or until al dente; personally, I cook mine a few minutes longer.
• Drain the pasta and transfer to a bowl.
• In a saucepan, over low heat, add olive oil, salt, pepper, chilli flakes, garlic and cook until garlic is golden brown, for about 8 minutes.
• Turn off heat.
  Toss in pasta and coat it with the mixture.
  Transfer to a bowl.
• Garnish with basil and parmesan cheese.
  Serve immediately.