Spaghetti with Garlic Butter and Cheese

• servings: 4 servings
• active time: 5 minutes
• total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

1 pound spaghetti

1 stick butter (cut into 8 pieces)

2 teaspoons granulated garlic powder or 4 medium cloves (minced)

1 cup (4 ounces) finely grated Romano or Parmesan cheese*

Kosher salt (to taste, I use 2 teaspoons**)

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 cup of reserved hot pasta water (you may not use it all)

Directions

Cook the pasta according to package directions - al dente, please in salted boiling water. Check out my post for How to Cook Pasta for proper cooking and seasoning. After the pasta is cooked, reserve 1 cup or more of pasta water and drain the rest.

Over medium heat, add a stick of butter to the pot and melt.

Add the garlic powder (or freshly minced for a more intense flavor) and stir allowing the garlic to release its fragrance. Do not brown. This should only take about 30 seconds. If using garlic powder, it should take less.

Remove pot from heat, add in the spaghetti, salt and pepper and toss. Add a little pasta water and continue to toss coating the pasta.

Add the cheese and continue to toss until the pasta is fully coated. Add more of the pasta water to give it a nice consistency. The hot pasta water will melt the cheese and turn it into a smooth creamy sauce.

Top with additional Parmesan cheese, if desired. (Do I even have to write that?)