While I am fond of rich pasta like creamy pesto, baked mac and lasagna, I am also partial to basic pasta preparation.
If you'll notice, most of my posts about pasta here are basic and simple. The main reason is that I have very little time to cook now that Reese is on her toddler years and need to be supervised all the time. I also make it a point to share quick and easy ways to cook food that the whole family can enjoy.
Aglio Olio is basically a pasta dish using Garlic and Oil as its name suggests. To add a twist, I used large shrimp or prawns to infuse the seafood flavor as opposed to the usual anchovy fillets.
Ingredients
400 grams spaghetti, cooked al dente
1/2 cup olive oil
1 whole garlic, minced
300 grams prawns, peeled and halved
1 tsp Chili flakes
Parmesan cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste
A handful of fresh basil leaves, chopped or 1 tbsp. dried
Procedure
Prepare spaghetti according to package directions. Drain.
While the pasta is cooking, prepare the prawns by peeling each without taking the tail. Cut the shrimp lengthwise. Season with salt (about a teaspoon) and pepper (1/4 teaspoon).
Heat up the olive oil and immediately throw in the garlic and chili flakes. Saute for one minute. Add the shrimp and stir-fry for 3 minutes or until the shrimp are cooked through.
Turn the heat to low and add the pasta. Make sure to mix throroughly such that every noodle has been coated with the sauce. Check the taste and add salt, pepper and chili flakes as needed. Add the basil cook for at least 1 minute more while mixing everything thoroughly.
Serve with parmesan cheese on top.
