Description
A spooky yet comforting pasta dish made with aged black garlic, rich butter, and parmesan cheese. This budget-friendly meal looks impressive but comes together in under 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights or Halloween.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) pasta (penne or rigatoni recommended)
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter
- 6–8 cloves black garlic, chopped or mashed
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- 1 cup (100g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup (120ml) heavy cream
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 cups fresh spinach (optional)
- 2 cups cooked diced chicken (optional)
Instructions
- Chop the black garlic finely or mash it with a fork. Grate the Parmesan cheese.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente (8-10 minutes). Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
- While pasta cooks, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped black garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
- Pour in heavy cream and stir. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Remove the skillet from heat. Gradually add the grated Parmesan, stirring constantly until melted and smooth. Add pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
- Add the drained pasta to the sauce and toss to coat evenly. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan, black pepper, and optional fresh parsley.
Notes
Save the starchy pasta water; it is crucial for emulsifying the sauce. Do not brown the garlic as it will taste bitter. Always remove the pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent it from becoming grainy. For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half and reduce the Parmesan. This recipe does not freeze well due to the dairy content.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 380
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 48
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 15
Keywords: black garlic, butter pasta, halloween dinner, budget-friendly, quick pasta, family dinner, comfort food, spooky recipes