Description
Witches Hair Pasta is a striking and flavorful squid ink spaghetti dish infused with a gentle garlic oil sauce and a touch of crushed red pepper. This quick and elegant pasta recipe combines the briny depth of squid ink with aromatic garlic and a hint of spice, making it perfect for a visually impressive and delicious meal in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta
- 1 lb dried squid ink spaghetti
- 1 tablespoon salt
For the Garlic Oil Sauce
- â…“ cup olive oil
- 6 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ cup reserved pasta cooking water (plus an additional 1 cup reserved, if needed)
Instructions
- Prepare the Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt, then cook the dried squid ink spaghetti according to the package instructions until it is al dente, typically around 8-10 minutes.
- Prepare the Garlic Oil Sauce: While the pasta cooks, heat â…“ cup of olive oil in a large pan over low heat to gently warm the oil without burning it.
- Cook the Garlic: Add the finely chopped garlic cloves to the warmed olive oil and cook gently for about 4 minutes, stirring often to prevent burning and to infuse the oil with garlic flavor.
- Add Red Pepper Flakes: Stir in 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes and cook for an additional 30 seconds to release their aroma into the sauce.
- Create the Sauce Base: Before draining the pasta, carefully remove ½ cup of the pasta cooking water and add it to the garlic oil mixture in the pan. Let it simmer gently to combine the flavors while the pasta finishes cooking.
- Combine Pasta with Sauce: Drain the cooked squid ink spaghetti, reserving an additional 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. Add the pasta to the garlic oil sauce in the pan and toss well to coat evenly.
- Adjust the Sauce Consistency: If needed, add some of the reserved pasta cooking water incrementally to loosen the sauce and ensure it evenly coats every strand of pasta.
- Serve: Serve the pasta immediately while hot to enjoy the best visual contrast and rich flavors. Garnish as desired and enjoy your Witches Hair Pasta!
Notes
- Be careful not to burn the garlic as it can turn bitter; cooking it gently over low heat is essential.
- Reserve enough pasta water to adjust the sauce’s consistency to your preference—it acts as a natural binder.
- Squid ink pasta has a distinctive briny taste and dramatic black color that pairs well with simple sauces like this garlic oil.
- This dish is best served immediately for optimal texture and flavor.
- You can add fresh parsley or grated cheese to garnish if you like, although this traditional version keeps it simple.
