Poor Man's Spaghetti

Poor man’s spaghetti is a simple yet flavorful dish that is part of Italian culinary tradition, especially in the South. They are called “poor” because of their peasant origins, using simple and low-cost ingredients. Here is the recipe to prepare them.

Ingredients

• 400 grams of spaghetti
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1 red chili pepper (or dried chili flakes to taste)
• 60 ml of extra virgin olive oil
• Salt, to taste
• Chopped parsley, to taste (optional)
• Toasted breadcrumbs, to taste (optional)

Preparation

1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti al dente according to the package instructions.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the extra virgin olive oil over medium heat.
3. Add the peeled garlic cloves (whole or sliced, depending on preference) and the chopped chili or flakes.
4. Sauté the garlic until golden, then remove it if you prefer not to find it in the dish.
5. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking water.
6. Add the spaghetti to the skillet with the flavored oil and toss well to combine with the sauce, adding a little cooking water if needed to make the dish creamier.
7. If desired, add chopped parsley and/or toasted breadcrumbs for a crunchy and aromatic touch.
8. Serve the spaghetti hot.

The simplicity of this dish makes it versatile; you can enrich it with other ingredients like anchovies, olives, or capers for an extra burst of flavor. The secret lies in using quality ingredients, such as a good extra virgin olive oil that will be the star of the dish. Buon appetito!