Description
You will love this vibrant Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Kale! It’s a fast Italian classic made even better with the addition of nutritious greens. This dish comes together quickly, making it perfect for a weeknight meal when you want something flavorful and satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more, to taste)
- 1 bunch kale (about 5 cups loosely packed), stems removed and roughly chopped
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
- Optional: Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the sliced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook slowly, stirring often, until the garlic is fragrant and just beginning to turn golden brown. Do not let the garlic burn; this is key for flavor.
- Add the chopped kale to the skillet. Increase the heat to medium. Sauté until the kale wilts down, about 3 to 5 minutes. Season the kale mixture lightly with salt and pepper.
- Add the drained spaghetti directly to the skillet with the garlic, oil, and kale. Toss everything together well to coat the pasta.
- Pour in about 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss vigorously; the starch in the water will emulsify with the oil to create a light sauce that clings to the pasta. Add more pasta water, a tablespoon at a time, if the pasta seems too dry.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve immediately, garnishing with fresh parsley if you like. Enjoy your quick, flavorful meal!
Notes
- Use good quality olive oil; it is a main flavor component here.
- Be very attentive when cooking the garlic; burnt garlic tastes bitter.
- If you find the kale tough, you can blanch it briefly in the pasta water before adding it to the skillet.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
- Calories: Estimate based on ingredients
- Sugar: Estimate based on ingredients
- Sodium: Estimate based on ingredients
- Fat: Estimate based on ingredients
- Saturated Fat: Estimate based on ingredients
- Unsaturated Fat: Estimate based on ingredients
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: Estimate based on ingredients
- Fiber: Estimate based on ingredients
- Protein: Estimate based on ingredients
- Cholesterol: 0mg