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Ina Garten Midnight Pasta

Ina Garten Midnight Pasta: Your New Favorite Quick Dinner

Ina Garten’s Midnight Pasta is a quick, vegetarian-friendly dish that combines garlic, olive oil, and pasta for a gourmet experience in just 20 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Resting Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta
  • 12 oz Spaghetti Use DeCecco for superior texture and flavor.
  • 2 tbsp Kosher Salt Essential for cooking the pasta.
For the Aglio e Olio Sauce
  • ½ cup Olive Oil High-quality extra virgin is key.
  • 4 cloves Garlic Thinly sliced for even cooking.
  • ½ tsp Red Pepper Flakes Adjust according to your spice preference.
For the Finish
  • ½ cup Fresh Parsley Can substitute with basil or chives.
  • 1 cup Parmesan Cheese Freshly grated for best melting.
  • 1 cup Pasta Water Reserved starchy water helps create a silky sauce.

Equipment

  • large pot
  • Sauté pan
  • Tongs

Method
 

Cooking Instructions
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a vigorous boil. Add spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1½ cups of pasta water before draining.
  2. In a large sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. This infuses the oil with rich flavors.
  3. Add garlic to the oil and sauté for about 2 minutes until light golden. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
  4. Stir in red pepper flakes and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
  5. Slowly pour in reserved pasta water and bring to a gentle boil; simmer for about 5 minutes to thicken.
  6. Add drained spaghetti to the skillet, tossing gently to coat with sauce.
  7. Mix in fresh parsley and grated Parmesan off the heat, stirring until creamy.
  8. Allow pasta to rest for 5 minutes before serving warm, with extra Parmesan on the side.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 12gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 400mgPotassium: 400mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 200mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Quality ingredients and avoiding burning garlic are key for the best flavor. Reserve enough pasta water to create a silky sauce.

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