1. Cook the spaghetti al dente
Cook the spaghetti in plenty of salted water until al dente. Before draining the pasta, make sure to reserve about 30 ml of the starchy pasta water – it is the key secret to creating a smooth Italian pasta sauce.
2. Prepare the garlic and olive oil base
Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a pan over low heat. Add the thinly sliced garlic and cook gently until it turns a light golden color. Be careful not to overcook it to preserve its subtle flavor.
3. Add the chili flakes
Add the chili flakes to the pan and let them infuse in the warm oil for just a few seconds to release their aroma.
4. Toss the pasta with the sauce
Add the drained spaghetti directly into the pan, pour in the reserved pasta cooking water, and stir vigorously. The starch and olive oil will emulsify into a silky Italian pasta sauce.
5. Serve like in the heart of Italy
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and finish with a final drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil.