Black Pasta Recipe (Squid Ink Spaghetti Aglio e Olio for Halloween Dinner)
Black squid ink spaghetti with garlic and olive oil is a Halloween twist on classic Italian aglio e olio pasta. It's a quick and easy meal that your family will love all year long!
Servings 6 servings
Calories 442kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound squid ink spaghetti or linguini (or regular spaghetti or linguine)
- 1/2 cup good quality extra-virgin olive oil
- 8 large cloves garlic peeled and thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup pasta water reserved from boiling the pasta
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt start with about 1/2 teaspoon if using fine table salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarsely-ground black pepper use less if using finely-ground
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes add more or less to taste
- 4 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped and divided (optional)
- 4 tablespoons shaved parmesan for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions in salted water. Just before you drain it, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Drain the pasta.
- Add the oil to a large, deep skillet over medium to medium-low heat. Add the sliced garlic and sauté until it turns golden brown and smells aromatic, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add the cooked pasta, 1/2 cup pasta water, salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, and half of the chopped parsley to the skillet with the garlic. Heat everything up for 1 to 2 minutes while tossing the pasta.
- Transfer the pasta to a serving dish. Top with the remaining chopped parsley and parmesan. Serve warm.
Notes
- Allergy Notice: If you have a shellfish allergy, note the term "shellfish" includes both crustaceans and mollusks. Squid is a mollusk, and you should avoid squid ink pasta if you have a shellfish allergy. If you still want to use with black pasta for a Halloween-themed meal, you can use black bean spaghetti or another type of black pasta that's not made with squid ink.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. This pasta dish heats best in a skillet over medium heat on the stovetop; add a splash of water if needed when reheating.
- Make it Authentic: Omit the parsley and parmesan cheese from this recipe. The traditional Italian dish features the bold flavors of good-quality olive oil, garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes in the forefront.
Nutrition
Calories: 442kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 478mg | Potassium: 43mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 304IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 3mg