pasta with Parmesan cheese

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces (225 grams) pasta

• 1/4 cup (60 ml) olive oil

• 3 garlic cloves, minced

• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

• 1 cup (90 grams) grated Parmesan cheese

• Salt and black pepper, to taste

• Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta following the instructions on the packet until it's just firm. Drain the pasta and keep about 1/2 cup (120 ml) of the pasta water.

2. While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a big pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if you like it spicy). Cook for about 1 minute until it smells good. Be careful not to burn the garlic.

3. Add the cooked pasta to the pan and mix it well with the olive oil, garlic, and red pepper. If it looks dry, add a bit of the reserved pasta water to make it moist.

4. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the pasta and continue mixing until the cheese melts and coats the pasta. If needed, add a little more pasta water to make a creamy sauce.

5. Season with salt and black pepper to your taste. Remember that Parmesan cheese is already salty, so go easy on the salt.

6. Take the pan off the heat and garnish with freshly chopped basil or parsley.

7. Serve the pasta immediately while it's still hot. You can also add more grated Parmesan on top if you want.

Enjoy your simple and tasty pasta dish with the rich flavor of Parmesan cheese!