Spaghetti Aglio e Olio e Fried Shallot

ID: d4be8a8f...

This is a classic Italian garlic and oil spaghetti with a special twist: the addition of fried shallots. The shallots provide extra caramelized sweetness, depth of flavor, and a satisfying crunch. By cooking the pasta in a small amount of water, the resulting starchy liquid helps create a beautifully creamy, emulsified sauce without any cream.

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Cooking Time
About 20 minutes
Difficulty
easy
Servings
Serves 4

🍳 Cooking Flow

Chop garlic and parsley. Toast fried shallots with a pinch of salt. → Cook spaghetti in a minimal amount of salted water until almost al dente. → Gently sweat chopped garlic and red pepper flakes in olive oil. Add half the shallots and a ladle of pasta water. → Transfer the undercooked pasta to the skillet. Add more pasta water and toss vigorously over high heat to create a creamy, emulsified sauce. → Turn off the heat, stir in fresh parsley, and serve topped with the remaining crispy shallots.

Cooking Steps

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Ingredients List

Spaghetti:1 pound (or 500g)
Garlic cloves, smashed and chopped:6-8
Extra-virgin olive oil:6 tablespoons
Fried shallots (store-bought or homemade):About 1/2 cup
Fresh parsley, chopped:A small handful
Red pepper flakes (like Piment d'Espelette):A pinch
Salt:To taste

Important Notes

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This recipe is from NYT Cooking and the video provides a free gift link to access it.

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Cooking pasta in a small amount of water is a key technique here. It concentrates the starch in the water, which is essential for creating a creamy sauce without dairy.

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Store-bought fried shallots are a great time-saver. Kenji recommends finding a brand that only lists shallots and oil in the ingredients, without added starches.

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Store-bought fried shallots are often unsalted, so it's a good idea to season them with salt after toasting to enhance their flavor.

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Adjust the amount of pasta water in the final sauce as needed. If it looks too dry or greasy, add more water. If it's too thin, reduce it a bit longer.

📺Channel:J. Kenji López-Alt
👀Views:93,473
👍Likes:2,578
📅Published:10/9/2025

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