I know what you are thinking. What does “I Oy” mean? It’s how my Italian family pronounced Aglio e Olio pasta. A popular Italian pasta sauce made with good olive oil, toasted garlic, fresh herbs, and lemon. A tasty garlic pasta with a catchy name, “I Oy”. Because my mother didn’t use much salt in her pasta water, she would sprinkle parmesan on top at the end to add a bit more seasoning. I wasn’t against it when I was younger. We now heavily salt our water and no longer use pinches. This is a family favorite at my mother’s house, particularly with broccoli and chicken. You’re going to adore this one!

These are fancy buttered noodles. We all liked and grew up on noodles. It’s simply a way of life. If you’ve never made I Oy, it’s definitely worth a try. My favorite meals are low-cost and require few ingredients. Technically, I Oy is an excellent approach to learn how to correctly make, sauce, and season pasta. According to Samin Nosrat, flavor is determined by salt, fat, acid, and heat. Add salt to the pasta water.

Fat in olive oil, acid in lemon, and heat in garlic chili oil. We use the pasta water not only to stop the cooking of the garlic and chili, but also to infuse some of the flavors, such as parmesan, into the al dente pasta. That’s correct, al dente. It’s fine if you prefer your pasta soft, but finish it in the fragrant garlic chili oil water. Taste your pasta in the water, cook until al dente, and reserve the pasta water.

We discussed how low-cost, few-ingredient meals are my jam, but that is only partially true. I enjoy simple dishes with minimal ingredients, but I often spend money on high-quality components for meals that need more effort. I am overly fond of food. Don’t get me wrong; this recipe works perfectly using Kraft sprinkle cheese and jarred minced garlic. There’s something about shredding a fresh block of Parmigiano Reggiano or chopping garlic paper thin that yields crispy, garlicky bits in this pasta. It’s very Italian with few, but high-quality ingredients. Buy yourself some fresh pasta or a unique pasta shape; you deserve it!