Spaghetti Aglio with Green Peas is a delicious light dinner or late night snack. You can make it in only 15 minutes! Enjoy it with a glass of white wine and crusty rustic bread.
You will find many versions of this dish, but they are all basically the same with the base players being spaghetti, olive oil, and garlic. I like a little heat and add red pepper flakes. But, my hands down favorite version is to add fresh green peas. That is what I like the most of all the additions and stir-ins. I love green peas so much in this dish, I always have them in the freezer “just in case”.
Ingredients
- Olive Oil
- Garlic
- Spaghetti
- Grated Parmesan
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Peas
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
Step 1 - Fill a large pot with cold water, add salt, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add spaghetti and cook just before it is al dente.
Step 2 - Reserve ½ cup of pasta water from the pot and drain spaghetti.
Step 3 - Meanwhile, as pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over low heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook just until garlic and red pepper flakes are fragrant, about 1 to 2 minutes. Do not let garlic brown.
Step 4 - Add drained spaghetti and toss to coat in spiced garlic oil. Add cooked green peas and reserved pasta water. Continue to cook over medium heat until all is combined and the water is absorbed by the pasta.
Step 5 - Sprinkle the grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese over the pasta.
Stir well, plate immediately… and Enjoy!
My Top Tips
You must save a half cup of pasta water! This is the magic ingredient that makes the dish come together quickly. After adding the pasta water to the skillet in Step #4 you will continue to cook the spaghetti until it is al dente. The water will be both absorbed into the spaghetti and the olive oil and garlic sauce will be more flavorful.
Substitutions & Variations
Of course, everyone has their favorite additions. Some people like to add sun dried tomatoes, asparagus tips, diced and cooked pancetta or ham, crumbled bacon, their favorite fresh herbs, or crushed garlicky croutons. My husband says topping it with toasted walnuts is his favorite and I have to agree that is very tasty too.
But my favorite is… and always will be… green peas!
Related Recipes
📖 Recipe
Spaghetti Aglio with Green Peas
Ingredients
- 3 Teaspoons Salt
- 6 Ounces Uncooked Spaghetti
- 3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 3 Cloves Garlic, Pressed or Minced Finely (2 about Teaspoons)
- 2 Pinches Red Pepper Flakes
- ½ Cup Cooked Green English Peas
- 3 Tablespoons Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with cold water, add salt, and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Add spaghetti and cook just before it is al dente.3 Teaspoons Salt, 6 Ounces Uncooked Spaghetti
- Reserve ½ cup of pasta water from pot and drain spaghetti.
- Meanwhile, as pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over low heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook just until garlic and red pepper flakes are fragrant, about 1 to 2 minutes. Do not let garlic brown.3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 3 Cloves Garlic, 2 Pinches Red Pepper Flakes
- Add drained spaghetti and toss to coat in spiced garlic oil. Add cooked green peas and reserved pasta water. Continue to cook over medium heat until all is combined and the water is absorbed by the pasta.½ Cup Cooked Green English Peas
- Add grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.3 Tablespoons Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
- Stir well and plate immediately… and Enjoy!
Video
Encharted Cook Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
All nutritional information on this site is an estimate. Your results may vary.
