By Akshara
May 21, 2026
This dish is a clever way to combine two of the world's favourite comfort foods: garlic bread and pasta. By tossing al dente pasta in a buttery, garlic-heavy emulsion with toasted breadcrumbs, you get a texture that mimics the crunchy, garlicky bite of a toasted baguette. It is minimalist cooking at its best, requiring only a handful of pantry staples to create a rich, restaurant-style dinner.
200g pasta of your choice  4 cloves garlic, finely minced  2 tbsp butter  1/4 cup coarse breadcrumbs  1 tsp red chilli flakes and chopped fresh parsley  2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, reserving half a cup of the pasta cooking water.
Melt the butter in a large pan, add the minced garlic and breadcrumbs, and toast until the crumbs turn golden brown and fragrant.
Toss the cooked pasta into the pan, adding the reserved water and chilli flakes, then stir vigorously to create a silky, butter-based sauce.
Transfer to a plate, immediately top with the grated processed cheese, and cover for 30 seconds so the heat from the dish melts it perfectly.