WWAPE…?

What is WWAPE?…that would be short for What Would Al Pacino Eat? Answer?

Spaghetti aglio e olio…translation Spaghetti with garlic and oil. Although of Sicilian decent, Mr. Pacino apparently prefers this more Neapolitan pasta. According to social media reports his mamma and his nonna (grandmother) made it just the way he likes it as he was growing up in the Bronx. You can give it a try and see if you have something in common with this actor who is maybe best known for portraying the character, Michael Corleone, the youngest son of Don Corleone in The Godfather. Seems in real life, as on screen, Al should know a thing or two about Italian cuisine and pasta!

Easy to prepare and certainly easy to eat, give Spaghetti Aglio e Olio a try. It might turn out to be your favorite too 🙂

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

1/2 cup olive oil (preferably extra virgin olive oil)
4 cloves of garlic peeled and minced
Salt
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 lb Italian spaghetti
5 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, chopped finely
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Bring 6 quarts of very well salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti. While the pasta is cooking add olive oil and garlic to a large skillet and cook on low heat for two minutes. Add red pepper flakes and stir for about 30 seconds more. Remove from heat until pasta has finished cooking. Drain the spaghetti but reserve some of the pasta water to add back to the sauce. Put drained spaghetti back in the pot and pour in olive oil and garlic and stir in the parsley. Add about 1/4 -1/2 cup of pasta water and stir to combine. Serve immediately with plenty of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Mangia!