Spaghetti poveri

Poor man’s spaghetti is a simple yet flavorful dish that is part of the Italian culinary tradition, especially in the South. They are called “poor” because of their peasant origins, using simple and low-cost ingredients. Here is the recipe to prepare them.

Ingredients

• 400 grams of spaghetti
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 1 red chili pepper (or to taste dried chili flakes)
• 60 ml of extra virgin olive oil
• Salt, to taste
• Chopped parsley, to taste (optional)
• Toasted breadcrumbs, to taste (optional)

Preparation

1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti al dente following the instructions on the package.
2. Meanwhile, in a large pan, heat the extra virgin olive oil over medium heat.
3. Add peeled garlic cloves (whole or sliced, depending on taste) and chopped chili pepper or flakes.
4. Fry the garlic until it becomes golden, then remove it if you prefer not to find it in the dishes.
5. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking water.
6. Pour the spaghetti into the pan with the flavored oil and toss them to blend well with the seasoning, adding a little cooking water if necessary to make the dish creamier.
7. If you want, you can add chopped parsley and/or toasted breadcrumbs for a crunchy and aromatic note.
8. Serve the spaghetti hot.

The simplicity of this dish makes it versatile, you can enrich it with other ingredients like anchovies, olives, or capers for an extra touch of flavor. The secret is using quality ingredients, like a good extra virgin olive oil that will be the star of the dish. Enjoy your meal!