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Angel hair pasta.
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5 from 4 votes

Easy Angel Hair Pasta with Garlic & Herbs

This easy angel hair pasta recipe is comfort food on a plate! Capellini (aka angel hair) is coated in a creamy sauce made with Italian olive oil, cream, and garlic, with fresh herbs and grated Parmesan cheese finishing the dish to perfection.
Course Pasta
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 2
Calories 809kcal
Author Beth Sachs

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Equipment

Ingredients

Metric - US Customary
  • 250 g Angel Hair Pasta or substitute with vermicelli
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil extra-virgin if you can!
  • 1 tablespoon Butter unsalted
  • 2 Garlic Cloves peeled and finely chopped
  • 100 ml Double Cream
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh Basil chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh Parsley chopped
  • 30 g Parmesan grated
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • ¼ teaspoon Pepper

Instructions

  • Bring a pan of salted water to a boil and cook the angel hair pasta according to package instructions (al dente should take 3-4 minutes). Reserve a cup of cooking water in a mug before draining the pasta. Set aside.
    250 g Angel Hair Pasta
  • In a frying pan or large skillet, heat the olive oil and butter until the butter has melted.
    1 tablespoon Olive Oil, 1 tablespoon Butter
  • Add the chopped garlic cloves to the melted butter and oil and cook on a low medium heat (you don't want the garlic to burn) for 2 minutes.
    2 Garlic Cloves
  • Stir in the double cream until the sauce is combined (you might find a whisk helpful here).
    100 ml Double Cream
  • Add the cooked angel hair pasta, grated parmesan, and fresh herbs to the pan, along with a splash of the reserved pasta water. Stir it all together and add more reserved pasta water until you get a silky glossy sauce. Season with salt and pepper before serving.
    1 tablespoon Fresh Basil, 1 tablespoon Fresh Parsley, 30 g Parmesan, ½ teaspoon Salt, ¼ teaspoon Pepper

Notes

Expert Tips
  • Remember that angel hair pasta is very thin, so it won't take long to cook. You want it to still have a bit of bite (al dente).
  • Use freshly grated Parmesan if you can. Pre-grated Parmesan is usually coated in anti-caking agents which will affect the texture of the sauce.
  • Don't skip the salt in the pasta water. An Italian (or was it Nigella?) once told me that pasta water should be as salty as the Mediterranean...and that's pretty salty!
  • If you don't have fresh herbs to hand, use a teaspoon of dried Italian seasoning instead.
 
Variations:
Try these easy ideas to customize your pasta recipe!
  • Angel hair pasta with chicken (use leftover roast chicken or rotisserie chicken).
  • You could also add in things like garlic butter shrimp, scallops, flaked salmon, or bacon bits, leftover roasted veggies, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and even toasted pine nuts to make the dish into a mouthwatering meal!
  • Love your food spicy? Add a chopped red chilli at the same time as the garlic and sprinkle with red pepper flakes at the end of cooking.
  • Top with chopped cherry tomatoes for a splash of colour.
 
Storage:
To Store: Place the pasta in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To Reheat: Reheat the pasta in the microwave until piping hot. Serve with more freshly grated Parmesan.
To Freeze: Place the cooled pasta in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge before reheating in the microwave.
 
Nutrition:
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

Nutritional Information (Approximate)

Calories: 809kcal | Carbohydrates: 99g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 850mg | Potassium: 365mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1079IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 258mg | Iron: 2mg
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