We’ve been doing this long enough to know that some recipes you see online aren’t meant for home cooking. Whether it’s a perfectly aesthetic dish or one filled with ASMR, sometimes those viral recipes are more for views than for actual eating. So, occasionally, we exercise a healthy dose of caution when it comes to trying the social media-famous foods.
One food craze originated with Instagram user @ohsweetbasil, who posted a recipe for spaghetti aglio e olio, with extra emphasis on the sizzling olive oil. The “Sizzling Spaghetti” is made with garlic, fresh herbs, and red pepper flakes, but the key is the hefty pour of hot olive oil, which serves as the pasta sauce.
Credit: Allrecipes
What Is Sizzling Spaghetti?
Traditionally, spaghetti aglio e olio is finished with hot olive oil and toasted, golden brown garlic, but Sizzling Spaghetti uses extra olive oil and nixes cooking the garlic. Instead, the hot oil is poured over a bed of pasta, garlic, parsley, oregano, rosemary, basil, and red pepper flakes. Then, the pasta gets mixed and finished with Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper.
The hot oil lightly cooks the garlic and helps the herbs and spices bloom, a technique similar to chili oil or Wet-Wet Sauce.
While the flavors aren’t necessarily new, using 2/3 cup oil is—and that’s what had our test kitchen pros hoping it was “worth using all [their] olive oil.” The verdict? It definitely is, especially if you’re looking to garner some attention for your dish—either from your family or the social media algorithm.
“It’s not the fastest pasta sauce because it’s not jarred, but I definitely think you could impress some of your friends by making this,” says video producer and recipe tester Natalie Gravois. “It looks like something you would order at a really nice Italian restaurant.”
Gravois describes the dish as the grown-up version of buttered noodles, saying “it’s as easy as making a box of mac and cheese, but feels like you’re serving a 5-star meal.” With fresh herbs and light spice, it’s the perfect summer dish that packs a flavorful punch while still feeling like a lighter meal.
So, if you’re looking for a new dinner party specialty or just an elevated weeknight meal that won’t take hours to make, give this recipe a try.
Sizzling Spaghetti RecipeIngredients
1 pound spaghetti, cooked al dente
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley, divided
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
1 to 2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Place spaghetti into a large bowl; sprinkle with garlic, basil, 2 teaspoons parsley, oregano, rosemary, and red pepper flakes.
Warm olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat until it shimmers.
Carefully pour hot oil over spaghetti, herbs, and pepper flakes; season with salt and black pepper. Toss until well combined.
Garnish with Parmesan and remaining 1 teaspoon parsley. Serve immediately.
Read the original article on Allrecipes
Dining and Cooking