A quick and easy first course that can be made perfect if you follow the right tips.
But what is the origin of pasta with garlic, oil and chilli pepper?
This dish's roots lie in the rural traditions of Campania, where extra virgin olive oil and chili pepper were staples of daily life. Initially prepared with linguine or vermicelli, as evidenced by "vermicelli alla borbonica," this simple yet flavorful dish later spread throughout Southern Italy. Its history is intertwined with that of "spaghetti alle vongole fujute," another humble recipe that mimicked the flavor of the sea by using hot pebbles instead of clams. Both of these variations speak to a cuisine made with few ingredients, yet rich in flavor and creativity.
What is garlic, oil, and chili pepper good for?
Besides adding a spicy touch to your recipes, this condiment is a veritable treasure trove of benefits. Thanks to its vitamins and antioxidants, it helps protect the body from free radicals, stimulates digestion, and, thanks to its vasodilatory properties, helps improve blood circulation.
This beloved condiment hides precious health benefits. Besides being a powerful antioxidant, chili pepper oil is a natural anti-inflammatory that can relieve pain and discomfort, aid digestion, and support cardiovascular health.
What oil should I use for pasta?
When dressing pasta, especially if you're using plain pasta and want to leave it as natural as possible, a quality extra virgin olive oil is essential.
For this reason we recommend a fruity oil such as a Cima di Melfi : medium intensity fruity and a single-varietal oil.
Extra virgin olive oil is a fundamental ingredient for seasoning pasta, especially when you want to enhance the simple, natural flavors of a dish like spaghetti with garlic, oil, and chili pepper.
This type of oil, with its fruity notes, is bitter and has a medium intensity of spiciness (excellent persistence of the spiciness).
It pairs perfectly with the bold flavor of garlic and chili pepper, creating a truly irresistible combination of flavors.
Cima di Melfi , a single-variety oil from Frantoio D'Orazio, is an excellent variety for this purpose: it's ideal for balancing flavors without being too aggressive. Why is extra virgin olive oil so important in this dish?
- Flavor: Oil is the undisputed star of this dish. A good extra virgin olive oil imparts an intense and aromatic flavor, enhancing the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Aroma: The oil releases an unmistakable aroma, which envelops the dish and stimulates the appetite.
- Nutritional quality: Extra virgin olive oil is rich in antioxidants and monounsaturated fatty acids, which are beneficial for health.
How to prepare spaghetti with garlic, oil and chilli pepper
In this dish, extra virgin olive oil is the star; using a low-quality product will detract from the final result. Therefore, in a dish where extra virgin olive oil reigns supreme, it's advisable to choose a high-quality oil with an intense, fruity flavor.
Coratina is fine, but in this case we also recommend Cima di Melfi: a medium-intensity, fruity, single-variety oil.
Since the fruitiness is lost during cooking, we suggest using half the amount of oil for cooking and half for raw.
Ingredients for 4 people:
- 350g of spaghetti
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 2 small chili peppers
- 4 tablespoons of Frantoio D'Orazio extra virgin olive oil
Procedure:
- Start preparing the spaghetti with garlic, oil, and chili pepper by bringing plenty of salted water to a boil in a large pot. Halve the two garlic cloves, remove the inner bud, and chop finely. Then, slice the chili pepper into thin rounds.
- Heat 4 tablespoons of oil in a pan, add the chopped garlic and sauté for a few minutes, being careful not to burn it.
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Add the chili pepper and sauté for a few seconds. Cook the spaghetti in salted water and drain when al dente.
Transfer them to the pan with the garlic and chili pepper and sauté them over high heat to evenly distribute the seasoning and flavor them. - Serve the spaghetti with garlic, oil and chilli pepper immediately while piping hot.
Pasta with garlic, oil, and chili pepper with a little something extra: black garlic oil.
For lovers of unique and gourmet products, instead of finishing the dish with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, the perfect choice is black garlic extra virgin olive oil!
Black garlic oil is one of the latest innovations from Frantoio D'Orazio.
The natural and delicate aroma of black garlic is added to quality extra virgin olive oil, creating an amazing taste. The smell is less pungent than normal garlic and is more digestible.
Preferably used raw, in addition to spaghetti with garlic, oil and chili pepper, we recommend using it to season roasted or ash-baked potatoes, soffritto, grilled vegetables, fish sauces, on toasted bread and tomatoes!
Some variations of this dish include the addition of breadcrumbs or pan-roasted and chopped almonds to ensure a pleasant crunch.
If you're wondering what wine to pair with it, we definitely recommend a white wine like Pinot Bianco or Trebbiano.
