By Rajlakshmi
June 22, 2026
The Neapolitan dish aglio olio is widely acclaimed for its simplicity and for making use of inexpensive ingredients with longer shelf life. Although it sounds simple, make sure to follow these tips while making it at home.
Use the best quality olive oil, and do not be stingy with garlic. It gives your pasta the right amount of rich sharpness, a nutty, flavourful accent, because of which you can skip the hustle of making sauce.
Boil the pasta in saltwater, not regular water. Boil only until the pasta is al dente, i.e. soft enough to take a bite, and then take it off the heat. Do not let the pasta turn mushy. Drain it, and reserve the starch water.
Ensure you take thin slices of garlic to fry since thick pieces would take time to cook and not infuse your pasta with the garlicky goodness you are looking for.
Stir the pasta with garlic, olive oil and herbs, gently. Do not wrestle with your pasta, unless you want broken spaghetti strands. You can use tongs to mix them more efficiently.
If you're preparing this spaghetti meal for a party, you may offer handmade focaccia with it so that guests can soak up the sauce. You can also serve a French baguette, garlic bread and sourdough bread.