Nom Nom Pasta

This is the pasta. THE pasta. Once you've had this pasta, you will be ruined of Olive Garden. Oh, and the kicker? It's quick.

Aglio e Olio
It is italian for garlic and olive
My recipe is a tweaked version of traditional aglio e olio.

You're going to need:
--Pasta (I use whole wheat penne or angel hair)
--A good amount of olive oil
--A head of garlic
--Red pepper flakes
--Salt
--Tomatoes
--Parmesan cheese

1. Put a bowl of water to boil over medium-high heat and add salt.
2. Make sure the noodles are halfway through cooking, and THEN put a saucepan over low-medium heat.
3. Add a generous amount of olive oil; enough to cover the bottom.
4. Chop five cloves of garlic and add to olive oil.
5. Add a generous amount of red pepper flakes.
Make sure not to brown the garlic too quickly. If you do before the pasta is done, it will make the pasta taste burned, which you don't want.
6. Stir frequently to combine the mixture.
7. Once noodles are done boiling, drain.
8. The garlic will start to turn a slight color.
9. Chop up some tomatoes (I used two) and stir.
10. The tomatoes will acquire a light glaze of garlic, red pepper flakes, and olive oil.
11. Toss pasta while the oil mixture is still over heat.
12. Increase heat to medium.
13. Make sure all of it is combined.
14. Salt and pepper to desired taste. (I recommend not salting it to desired amount because the parmesan cheese will add more salt).
15. Serve with fresh basil leaves and shredded parmesan cheese.


This pasta is delicious and extremely flavorful. It's amazing served with the traditional Italian sides; salad and French bread.

I originally had this dish in Eugene with a friend of mine at an amazing, legit Italian restaurant. This wasn't any Olive Garden, which I cannot eat at anymore because the flavor does not exist and it's a waste of money to me. Besides the French bread and salad, which I love. Everything else, no.

I'm sure you could impress someone with your skills if you were to whip this up.

Need any feedback, have any tips, just want to leave a comment? Let me know!

-eLLe