Description
Kenji Garlic Noodles is a simple yet flavorful pasta dish featuring al dente spaghetti tossed in a rich garlic butter sauce enhanced with soy sauce and a touch of sugar. Garnished with fresh green onions, this recipe offers a perfect balance of savory, slightly sweet, and aromatic notes, making it an easy and delicious meal to prepare in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 8 oz spaghetti or linguine
- 6 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 green onions, sliced thinly
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti or linguine and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.
- Sauté Garlic: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Toss Noodles: Add the cooked noodles to the skillet with the garlic butter. Pour in the soy sauce and sprinkle sugar on top. Toss gently to evenly coat the noodles with the sauce.
- Adjust Creaminess: If the noodles seem dry, gradually add the reserved pasta water a little at a time until the desired creamy texture is achieved.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the skillet from heat and toss in the thinly sliced green onions. Serve the noodles hot for best flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute spaghetti or linguine with any long pasta like fettuccine or linguine if preferred.
- Adjust garlic quantity to taste for a more or less intense garlic flavor.
- Adding reserved pasta water helps emulsify the butter and soy sauce, creating a silky sauce that coats the noodles well.
- Use low-sodium soy sauce to control saltiness; regular soy sauce can be too salty.
- This dish pairs well with steamed vegetables or grilled protein for a complete meal.
