Dad Recipe: Pasta Aglio e Olio (aka Garlic Oil Pasta) (aka Scarlett’s Pasta)

This pasta is so friggin tasty. Decadent, simple and packs a mad punch of flavor.

It comes from the quietly amazing movie, Chef. Highly recommended if you have not seen it. Starring Jon Favreau, Robert Downey Jr and Scarlett Johansson. Nothing dramatically bad happens (which is nice, for a change) and the rich story full of perfect characters keeps you highly engaged. It’s comedy and drama and full of wonderful food that makes you hungry and ready to cook.

Speaking of Dad Life, Chef is actually a great story about a top-tier chef trying to balance his life as a dad with his life as a chef.

Most importantly, underpinning the whole movie is the most delicious food created by real life chef Roy Choi who is the OG food truck pioneer of Kogi and star of The Chef Show. Watching Roy cook is inspiring and artful.

Pasta Aglio Olio (aka Garlic Oil Pasta, aka Scarlett’s Pasta) is one of the recipes in the movie. It’s simple, with the focus being high quality Olive Oil, tons of garlic, parsley, red pepper flakes and cheese.

Not only does the food look delicious in the movie but the scene in which it’s prepared is a late-night romance with Scarlett Johansson’s character. Chef’s kiss to the whole thing.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb dried spaghetti

• 1 cup extra virgin olive oil - Get the good stuff for this since it’s the star of the show!

• 12 large garlic cloves, thin slivers - Thing to win!

• 1 tbl crushed red pepper flakes

• 1 cup fresh parsley, minced

• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated - Pecorino Romano will do, as well

• sea salt

• ground black pepper

• 2 lemons

Preparation:

1. Boil a large pot of salted water and add the spaghetti, cooking until al dente 8-10 minutes.

2. Reserve some pasta water, then drain pasta.

3. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.

4. Add garlic and stir frequently until the garlic is golden brown. This is important. Cook on a simmer and closely watch the garlic slowly brown. Once it starts to brown it’s done. It will taste nutty, but that’s the idea.

5. Add red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.

6. Add the drained spaghetti directly to the pan.

7. Toss until spaghetti is thoroughly coated with the garlic oil (add reserved pasta water if necessary).

8. Remove pan from heat. Add the parsley, Parmesan and toss well.

9. Check for flavor and adjust the salt if necessary.

10. Squeeze lemons to taste, garnish with more Parmesan, and enjoy!