Southern Italians have been serving pasta with olive oil and garlic since time immemorial and for the poor it was often the only hot meal of the day. This is my version for 2 people:
While you cook some spaghetti according to the instructions on the pack, heat 2 tablesp olive oil in a frying pan and fry a whole clove of garlic and a fresh, hot chilli pepper slowly. Take the garlic and chilli pepper out of the oil when the pasta is cooked and take the frying pan off the heat. Drain the pasta, dress with the flavoured oil and add the grated zest of a lemon and freshly grated parmesan or caciocavallo cheese as you like. And if you happen to have chilli-flavoured spaghetti from Calabria, as I have here, the dish will be even more spicy!
As I've said before, there is no elegant way to eat spaghetti so you may as well enjoy it as Julia does here:
12 comments:
I love this dish...and in the US in 1929 it was called "depression food."
CaccioCavallo cheese is hard to find in the US. My cousin took us to Modica (from Ferla) in 2007 and we hunted through the streets and finally found a merchant (who was actually packaging flour for sale) who had a deli case with the cheese and he vacuum packed a large piece for me to bring home with me.
It's a winner! Thanks for the recipe.
Very tasty Welshcakes, does that come in a microwaveable packet:)
Spagetti aglio, olio peperoncino is the one dish I always make when we are feeling like a cold is coming on. I go heavy on the garlic and hot pepper, and it always makes me feel much better the next day. The caciocavallo is a great addition so I'll have to try it next time!
This looks delicious. I'm going to make it this weekend. Thanks for the recipe
Delicious :-)
stop making me hungry!
does Simi like pasta by the way?
I have a message for her:
woof woof bark ark oof oop bo!
she'll know what i'm saying ;-)
It's a great meal, anytime.
Hi, Patricia. Yes, it's quite sobering to remember how it was regarded as "cucina povera" here and, as you say, "depression food" over there. Verry interesting to learn your cheese story - thanks for sharing it here. I'm glad you think so, Claude. Perish the thought, Angus! Hi, Rowena. Yes, it must be one of the most warming dishes in the world. I like caciocavallo on pasta. I'm very flattered, Marian. My pleasure. Thanks, Cherie. Sorry, Gleds! Simi says she likes pasta and knows exactly what you mean. She also says woofie-woofie-woo with big kissies. XX
Hi, Rosaria. You're right and I think I'll make some right now!
I actually enjoy spaghetti with lots of soft boiled onions which have been allowed to sweeten. Sometimes I add cherry tomatoes. Simple food is often the best!
I do agree, Ellee.
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