Foodie Goodie | Spaghetti Aglio Olio.

Weekends are for watching old Korean dramas. At least that's what they are, for me. And the past weekend saw me finishing 'Pasta' - all twenty episodes of it. This hit romantic comedy series, which aired in 2010, revolves around the life of Seo Yoo Kyung (portrayed by Gong Hyo Jin) and her dreams and struggles to become an elite chef.

Lee Sun Kyun and Gong Hyo Jin in Pasta.

After watching this drama, I was prompted inspired to do two things - have my ears pierced near the cartilage - in the style of Gong Hyo Jin,  and cook Spaghetti with Olive Oil and Garlic ala Choi Hyun Wook (the male lead, portrayed by Lee Sun Kyun).

Now I have three piercings on my left ear. :)

I've never cooked Spaghetti Aglio Olio before, so I did a bit of research and came across this recipe from the Food Network. The ingredients are pretty basic, and this dish takes very little time and effort to cook. It's perfect for days when I'm in the mood for pasta but don't want to go through the whole process of chopping and slicing and prepping ingredients, lol.

Spaghetti Aglio Olio

Ingredients:
500 grams spaghetti
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsps flat-leaf parsley, chopped
pinch of red pepper flakes
kosher salt to taste (plus 1 teaspoon)
zest of 1/2 lemon
parmesan cheese, grated

Procedure:
1. Bring a large pot of cold water to a boil over high heat, then salt it generously.
2. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally until al dente, tender but not mushy, about 8 minutes.
3. While the pasta cooks, combine the garlic, olive oil, the 1 teaspoon salt, and red pepper flakes in a large skillet and warm over low heat, stirring occasionally until the garlic softens and turns golden.
4. Drain the pasta in a colander set in the sink, reserving about a 1/4 cup of the cooking water.
5. Add the pasta and the reserved water to the garlic mixture. Mix well.
6. Add the parsley and lemon zest. Adjust seasoning, to taste.
7. Transfer to a large serving bowl or divide amongst 4 to 6 dishes. Serve topped with grated cheese, if desired.

Shared with Food Friday and Food Trip Friday.