Sothern Italian Valentine Spicy Aglio e Olio Pasta

This is a dish that will warm your very heart and soul. It is the perfect primo piato for Valentines day. The flavors are delightful and dance on your tongue. The level of heat can be easily adjusted and so can the depth of color. That part I leave up to you. Your assignment is to make this dish yours by finding your level of spiciness.

Recipe

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1lb pasta dry or fresh

1-2 cups pasta water

2 tbs Kosher salt

2 tbs chopped Italian parsley

6 garlic cloves peeled and chopped

6 tbs extra virgin olive oil

1-2 tbs paprika your choice more for a redder color

1/4 -3 tsp crushed red pepper depending on the level of heat you are after

Start by filling a pot with 3 quarts water, the salt and bring to a boil. While the water is getting hot get your ingredients together. We want to time it so the pasta will finish cooking in the saute pan.

Get the olive oil hot in the saute pan and add the garlic but watch the heat. You don't want to over cook or burn the garlic and things start to move real fast once the oil is hot.

 

After a minute or so add the paprika, crushed red pepper and stir. Get them cooked but not overly cooked.

After another few minutes add the parsley. In between this the water should have started to boil. The pasta should be put in the water and stirred. After 5minutes for dry pasta 2 minutes for fresh pasta it will be ready to add to the saute pan to be finished off. Make sure you save 1-2 cups pasta water. this adds creaminess and flavor to your dish.

Stir in the pasta and get the spices in there.

Adding the pasta water while you finish cooking it in the saute pan makes the flavors come out.

You can turn the fire off once all the ingredients are mixed. The pasta will continue to cook and finish. It will also absorb the sauce and will become one with the sauce. You do not want the pasta overcooked so it is important not to cook for more than half the regular cooking time for al dente pasta in the water. After a few minutes that the fire has been turned off give it another good stir to mix the sauce well. Try to serve right away and avoid covering it because it will continue to cook and you want this pasta dish to be al dente.

Happy Valentine's Day and Bon Appetite!