Everyone Agrees: These Neapolitan Pasta Dishes Are Incredibly Cheap and Delicious!

Italians have a knack for creating exquisite dishes out of the simplest ingredients. This is the essence of cucina povera! Chef Xavier Pincemin reminds us on Instagram that this “poor kitchen” is also a cuisine rich in flavors. Here, he shares one of his favorite recipes: “This is simply one of the best pastas,” the chef attests. And he knows what he’s talking about: he trained under Chef Simone Zanoni, who hails from the northern part of Italy. “It’s one of our great culinary specialties!“, confirms the Italian chef, referring to a classic Neapolitan dish. Economical, simple, and quick to prepare, these spaghetti dishes are a hit at any dinner table. We’ll give you the recipe right here!

The Ingredients for the Most Cost-Effective Italian Spaghetti

To whip up these pastas, you only need three basic ingredients typically found in your pantry: garlic, olive oil, and chili pepper. These are the key components for the famous spaghetti aglio olio e peperoncino! Here’s what you’ll need to serve two people:

• Olive oil
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 3 bird’s eye chilies
• 200g of spaghetti
• Salt

How to Prepare the Most Cost-Effective Italian Spaghetti

For this recipe, you’ll need a pot, a sauté pan or a skillet with high sides, a cutting board, and a sharp knife.

1. Cook your pasta al dente in a large pot of salted water.
2. Meanwhile, finely chop the garlic cloves and chili pepper.
3. Sauté them in a pan with a drizzle of olive oil. “Be careful not to let it burn!“, the chef warns. The mixture should just start to smell wonderful without browning.
4. Transfer the al dente pasta to the pan with a ladle of the pasta water.

5. Vigorously stir to coat the spaghetti well with the sauce and serve immediately.

A final drizzle of olive oil on top and you’re done. How does it taste? “It’s exceptional“, raves Chef Xavier Pincemin. Give it a try, and you won’t be disappointed!