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Garlic Noodles

Spaghetti tossed in a buttery garlic sauce with oyster sauce, soy sauce and fish sauce, finished with Parmesan and scallions.

pastagarlicquickasian
Illustration of Garlic Noodles
Illustration

Ingredients

  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 20 medium garlic cloves, minced or smashed
  • 4 tsp oyster sauce
  • 2 tsp light soy sauce or shoyu
  • 2 tsp fish sauce
  • 1 lb dry spaghetti
  • water, 1 1/2 inches deep in a 12-inch skillet, or enough to cover the spaghetti
  • 1 oz grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese, heaping 1/4 cup
  • scallions, a small handful, thinly sliced; optional

Steps

1Make the garlic sauce

  1. Melt 4 tbsp unsalted butter in a wok or medium saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Add the 20 medium garlic cloves, minced or smashed, and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant but not browned, about 2 minutes.
  3. Stir in 4 tsp oyster sauce.
  4. Stir in 2 tsp light soy sauce.
  5. Stir in 2 tsp fish sauce.
  6. Remove from the heat and set aside.

2Cook the spaghetti

  1. Fill a 12-inch skillet or sauté pan with 1 1/2 inches of water and bring to a boil over high heat.
  2. Add 1 lb dry spaghetti, stirring a few times to prevent it from clumping.
  3. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is just shy of al dente, approximately 2 minutes less than the package's recommended cook time.
  4. Using tongs, transfer the spaghetti directly from the water to the garlic sauce, allowing some of the pasta water to transfer with the pasta.
  5. Do not discard the remaining pasta water.

3Finish and serve

  1. Increase the heat to high under the wok or saucepan with the spaghetti and garlic sauce.
  2. Add 1 oz grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese and stir and toss vigorously with a wooden spoon or spatula until the sauce is creamy and emulsified, about 30 seconds.
  3. If the sauce appears too watery, continue to reduce it over the heat.
  4. If it seems greasy, add a splash more pasta water and stir until it re-emulsifies.
  5. Stir in a small handful of thinly sliced scallions, if using.
  6. Serve immediately.