Description
Witches Hair Pasta, also known as Squid Ink Pasta, is a visually stunning and flavorful Italian dish featuring black squid ink spaghetti tossed in a fragrant garlic oil sauce with just a hint of spicy red pepper flakes. This easy-to-make recipe combines al dente squid ink pasta with a silky, aromatic sauce enhanced by reserved pasta water for perfect coating and texture. Ideal for a quick yet impressive dinner, this dish delivers a beautiful presentation and a subtle depth of flavor from the garlic and olive oil.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta
- 1 lb dried squid ink spaghetti
- 1 tablespoon salt
For the 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 cup reserved)
Instructions
- Prepare the Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the salt. Cook the squid ink spaghetti according to the package instructions until it reaches an al dente texture, ensuring the pasta retains a slight firmness.
- Prepare the Garlic Oil Sauce: While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large pan over low heat to gently infuse the oil with the garlic flavor without burning it.
- Cook the Garlic: Add the finely chopped garlic to the warm oil and cook it gently for about 4 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent the garlic from browning or burning, which could result in a bitter taste.
- Add Red Pepper Flakes: Stir in the crushed red pepper flakes and cook the mixture for an additional 30 seconds to release the flavors and heat into the oil.
- Create the Sauce Base: Before draining the pasta, carefully remove ½ cup of the starchy pasta cooking water and add it to the garlic oil mixture in the pan. Let the sauce simmer gently to combine and emulsify the flavors while the pasta finishes cooking.
- Combine Pasta with Sauce: Drain the spaghetti, reserving an additional cup of pasta water. Add the drained pasta to the garlic oil sauce and toss thoroughly to coat each strand evenly with the sauce.
- Adjust Sauce Consistency: If the sauce appears too dry or clings unevenly, add the reserved pasta water gradually until the sauce smoothly coats the pasta to your desired consistency.
- Serve Immediately: Plate the pasta right away to enjoy its optimal flavor and visual appeal, serving the dish while hot for the best experience.
Notes
- Be cautious not to burn the garlic during cooking as it will impart bitterness.
- Squid ink pasta has a slightly briny flavor that pairs well with simple garlic-based sauces.
- Reserved pasta water is key to achieving the perfect silky texture in the sauce.
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to control the spiciness.
- This dish is best served fresh and warm to showcase its unique color and flavor profile.
