My Spaghetti Aglio E Olio with prawns

I always end up ordering this pasta on Italian nights. It's sad that this beautiful dish is always served as a vegetarian option at most places. Since it is my favourite way to enjoy pasta, I have decided to make it with some prawns. It is simple and easy to make, the ingredients are easily available and the best part of it is that, it is lighter than most other pasta recipes.

This recipe has obvious Italian roots and literally means spaghetti in oil and garlic. I have added a simple prawn element to make it more appealing to carnivores like me.

It is best to have all the ingredients ready for this one before you put your skillet on the stove.

What will you require?

• 75 gm spaghetti 
• 6 tiger prawns (clean and devein if using fresh prawns )
• 5 gms of butter
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil.
• 5 cloves of garlic
• chilly flakes
• parsley/coriander
• some sea salt

Follow the technique of cooking your pasta as written on the packet as every brand and type of pasta cooking time varies. Since I am cooking only for 1 person i will use 5 cups of water to boil 75 gm of pasta (our wai wai and maggie comes in packets of 75 gm so i am guessing this amount will fill me up :)

While you are waiting for the water to boil you can clean your prawns and keep them aside.

Once the water boils and you add in your pasta, prep your garlic as shown in the picture. remember to slice your garlic elegantly as it does make a difference.

1 small tsp of olive oil  and 5 gm butter goes into a frying pan/ skillet on medium heat. Throw in  the prawns  and add  sea salt/regular salt, one clove of minced garlic and chilli flakes as soon as the butter starts melting. Stir fry your prawn in butter for 4 minutes on low heat adding chopped parsley just before you take it off heat. Remove and keep aside. (discard the excess butter or use it to toast a slice of bread on the same pan.)

Using the same pan, pour in  4 tbsp olive oil on low heat and throw in the remaining garlic.

 Be patient and let the garlic get infused in the oil. It should take about 4 minutes on low heat. (remember to check on your pasta boiling away).

 Once you notice your garlic is browning, add 2 tbsp of your pasta water to stop it from becoming bitter and burnt. Add chilly flake and salt to taste. Now you may add the pasta to this pan directly from the pot it has been boiling in. Once you add the pasta, turn the heat from low to medium and ad in your butter prawns. Toss it around for about a minute and half and serve.

You can sprinkle some fine Parmesan cheese over your pasta if you just cant do without cheese, but this tastes good even without cheese. 

No heavy sauce, just light and perfect for summer- My Spaghetti Aglio E Olio with prawns :)

Remember to cook from your heart!!