Description
Witches Hair Pasta is a simple yet flavorful dish featuring squid ink spaghetti tossed with garlic-infused olive oil and a hint of crushed red pepper flakes. This recipe uses minimal ingredients to create a deliciously aromatic pasta, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or an impressive meal for guests.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Pasta
- 6 large garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 lb dried squid ink spaghetti
For the Sauce
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Prepare the Garlic: Finely chop the garlic cloves and set them aside for later use to infuse the oil with their flavor.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pan of water to a boil, add the tablespoon of salt, and cook the squid ink spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente.
- Infuse the Olive Oil: While the pasta cooks, place the olive oil and chopped garlic into a large pan and cook over low heat for 4 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid burning and to release the garlic aroma.
- Add Heat: Add the crushed red pepper flakes to the garlic oil and cook for an additional 30 seconds to combine the flavors.
- Add Pasta Water: Carefully measure and add ½ cup of the hot pasta cooking water into the garlic oil mixture. Allow this to simmer gently to create a silky sauce while you drain the pasta.
- Reserve Pasta Water: Before draining, reserve an additional cup of pasta water in case you need to loosen the sauce later.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Drain the pasta and add it directly to the pan with the garlic oil sauce. Toss and stir vigorously over high heat to ensure the pasta is well coated.
- Adjust Consistency: If the sauce seems too thick, gradually add some of the reserved pasta cooking water to achieve a glossy, smooth texture.
- Serve: Serve the pasta immediately while hot for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Be careful not to burn the garlic while sautéing as it will turn bitter.
- Squid ink spaghetti adds a unique flavor and striking black color, but regular spaghetti can be used as a substitute.
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level.
- Reserve pasta water is essential as the starch helps the sauce cling to the pasta, giving it a creamy texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
