we are infinite.

Being stuck at home with a persistent cough and swollen tonsils does have its perks – I’ve got too much free time and mooching around the house like a sulky cat isn’t exactly the most exciting way to pass time, so I’ve started a new hobby - COOKING!

I’ve always been a fan of Italian food – pizza, pasta, cream soups and assorted cheese and salads – you can never go wrong with Italian. And most of these dishes are remarkably easy to prepare.

Today I’m going to teach you (actually not much teaching’s involved cos it’s so simple. Idiot-proof, really. So I’m actually merely sharing. Or informing.) how to prepare the easiest, quickest and yummiest dish ever – Mushroom Aglio Olio!



This is a picture of my final result. Drool-worthy, yes? Look at the spices. Nomnomnomsies.

Ingredients (for single serving)

3 Cloves of Garlic
40 grams of pasta
2 Jumbo White Button Mushrooms
Virgin Olive Oil
2 Chilli Padis
A tiny bit of Parsley

Steps

First, boil the pasta in salt water till completely cooked. You can easily ascertain the extent to which it has been cooked by picking out a single strand and cutting it in half. If there is a white dot in the middle, it means that the pasta has not been fully cooked yet. Continue boiling till the white dot fully disappears.

White waiting for the pasta to boil, peel the garlic cloves and chop them into tiny little pieces. The tinier, the better! The flavour diffuses better this way. Chop the jumbo white mushrooms into slices too.

Also, chop the chilli padis up into thin slices. Do take caution: do not allow the chilli padi seeds to come into direct contact with your skin cos IT WILL BURN LIKE A MOTHER BITCH. I’ve experienced them chilli burns before – not fun at all. I assure you. So wear some gloves or be extremely careful!

Pour approximately ¼ of a cup of Olive Oil into frying pan. Let it heat for about 15 seconds. Put the chopped garlic in and stir fry for about 10 seconds or till slightly golden brown. It’s very important not to overcook the garlic cos burnt garlic tastes nasty!

Next, add the mushroom slices. Stir fry till brown (shouldn’t take more than 30 seconds). Add in chilli slices right after and continue stir frying for another 15 seconds.

Ensure that your pasta has been fully cooked. Drain it and add pasta into pan and fry together with the oil, mushrooms, garlic and chilli. Add in a small pinch of butter for added flavour and smoothness. Let it fry and simmer for a good 30 – 60 seconds, and add a dash of salt and pepper.

And you’re done!

Pour everything onto a nice shiny glass bowl and you’re set to serve. Oh, and remember to garnish it with Parsley for aesthetics!

Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy~

Now go try it!