Description
Garlic noodles are a simple yet incredibly flavorful dish originating from a San Francisco restaurant. This recipe features spaghetti tossed in a rich, savory sauce made with soy, oyster, Worcestershire, and fish sauces, combined with aromatic garlic and butter, producing a deliciously satisfying meal perfect for a quick dinner or a comforting side dish.
Ingredients
For the Secret Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons fish sauce
- ¼ teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
For the Noodles:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 8 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 ounces spaghetti
- ¼ cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped green onion, or to taste
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Prepare the secret sauce. In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, oyster sauce, Worcestershire sauce, fish sauce, sesame oil, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Stir well and set aside.
- Sauté the garlic. Melt the unsalted butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Avoid browning the garlic to maintain a smooth flavor.
- Add the secret sauce. Quickly stir the prepared secret sauce into the skillet with the garlic and immediately turn off the heat to prevent overcooking the sauce.
- Cook the spaghetti. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is tender but still has a slight bite, approximately 12 minutes.
- Combine noodles and sauce. Using tongs, transfer the cooked spaghetti directly into the skillet with the garlic sauce, bringing along some of the pasta cooking water. Toss thoroughly to coat the noodles evenly.
- Incorporate cheese and adjust consistency. Stir in the finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese until melted and well integrated. Add more pasta water as needed if the noodles seem dry to achieve a silky texture.
- Plate and garnish. Serve the noodles plated and garnish with chopped green onions and a pinch of red pepper flakes for a touch of heat and color.
Notes
- Any noodles can work well in this recipe, including Chinese egg noodles and ramen.
- Maggi Seasoning Sauce is a known secret ingredient in some versions but is omitted here for accessibility reasons.
- If you prefer more heat, increase the cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to taste.
- Use freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano for the best flavor and melting quality.
- Saving some pasta water is key to achieving the perfect sauce consistency.
