My Pasta/Spaghetti Aglio Olio

My Pasta Aglio Olio.......

Cik Ngah heard several times about this recipe, sound so difficult but actually it mean something like pasta with garlic oil!!

Main ingredients are olive oil, garlic and chilli flakes! So the ingredients need to be of the best quality, especially the olive oil. The garlic need to be freshly chopped or minced.

Spaghetti or Pasta can be used with this recipe. Here is my version of Aglio Olio...

Ingredients;
Aglio Olio:
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
6 to 8 large cloves garlic, crushed and minced
1 tbsp chilli flakes (more if you like heat!!!)
1/4 cup finely chopped flat leaf parsley, a couple of handfuls
1 cube ikan bilis stock (I used non-msg)
Salt and pepper to taste
500g spaghetti/pasta, cooked to al dente
Tomato and Onion Salad, as an accompaniment
Spicy Shrimp, as an accompaniment (optional)

Directions

1. While the pasta cooks, combine the garlic, olive oil,  and chilli flakes in a large skillet and warm over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the garlic softens and turns golden, about 8 minutes.
2. Stir in ikan bilis cube, salt and pepper to your taste.
3. Toss spaghetti in the pan with parsley and the garlic oil.
4. Top servings of garlic and oil spaghetti with spicy shrimp and serve with Tomato and Onion Salad.

Spicy Shrimp:
2 pounds jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 lemon, juiced
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley (a couple of handfuls)
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
4 cloves garlic, crushed and peeled
Coarse salt, about 1 teaspoon
2 tablespoons (a couple of generous drizzles) extra-virgin olive oil
Directions: 

1. Combine shrimp with next 6 ingredients and toss to coat shrimp evenly.
2. Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium high heat, then add half of the shrimp. 
3. Cook shrimp 3 minutes until pink and just firm. 
4. Remove shrimp to a warm platter and repeat process with remaining shrimp.

Tomato and Onion Salad:
5 medium plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise, gently seeded, and thinly sliced
1 small white skinned onion, peeled, halved lengthwise, and thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley (a couple of handfuls)
A generous drizzle extra-virgin olive oil, about 2 tablespoons
Coarse salt and black pepper
Directions:

1. Toss the tomatoes and onions with the chopped parsley, oil, salt, and pepper.
2. Let stand while you prepare dinner, about 20 minutes. 
3. Re-toss and serve salad with your pasta

Cook's Notes:

1. Prepare the shrimp while the pasta is cooking.
2. Prep your garlic and parsley for aglio olio and set them, as well as drained pasta and remaining ingredients all within arm's reach of your stove top.
3. If you wanna omit the spicy shrimp, add shrimp to your pasta! Toss in peeled shrimp (200g) before seasoning your garlic oil.