Guajillo and Garlic Pasta
Pasta con Guajillo y Ajo
Recipe Yield
6 servings
Cooking time
15 minutes
Rate this recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound thin spaghetti or vermicelli
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 5 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried and crumbled
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried and crumbled
- 1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried
- 1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh marjoram or 1/2 teaspoon dried
- 5 guajillo chiles stemmed, seeded and finely chopped
- kosher or coarse sea salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup freshly grated queso Cotija Parmigiano-Reggiano, Romano, ricotta salata, or Pecorino Romano
- 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh parsley optional for garnish
To Prepare
- Bring salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and let it come to a boil again. Boil, uncovered, until pasta is al dente, about 7 to 8 minutes. Scoop out 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and set aside. Drain the pasta.
- In a large skillet or casserole, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once it is hot, but not smoking, add the garlic and cook just until fragrant, 20 to 30 seconds, stirring continuously. Stir in the rosemary, oregano, thyme and marjoram, and cook for 30 to 40 seconds. Add the guajillo chiles and cook, continuing to stir, for another 20 to 30 seconds. You want them to gently brown, but not burn.
- Add the pasta to the skillet and toss well. Pour in the reserved pasta water, toss and cook for another couple minutes. Remove from the heat. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve garnished with freshly grated cheese and chopped parsley.
Comments
59comments inGuajillo and Garlic Pasta
Anonymous
Jul 28
Se ve muy rica esta receta la voy a cocinar gracias pati
Pati Jinich
Jul 29
Ojala que te guste, saludos!
Isabel
Feb 08
Absolutely delicious, I got full off the first plate. My husband also enjoyed eating, it was a something different for both of us.
Pati Jinich
Feb 10
Thanks for the feedback Isabel, so happy you guys enjoyed the pasta 😉
Martha
Aug 30
This was so easy to make, and quick too. It was delicious and I will be making it again, and again. Thank you.
Pati Jinich
Sep 05
Gracias Martha, enjoy 😉
Kathy
Jul 09
I missed the beginning of the show. Do you soak the chili’s?
Pati Jinich
Jul 12
No Kathy, Guajillos are not re hydrated for this recipe, they are just stemmed, seeded and finely chopped. Enjoy!
Valerie and Alberto
Jun 19
Made this tonight with some chicken. So good Pati, Thank you!!
Pati Jinich
Jun 20
Thank you guys! Love to read you enjoyed this recipe 😉
Travis E.
Dec 12
Made this last night with some grilled chicken for a quick dinner. I added a little butter to the olive oil, and used dried herbs because that’s what I had on hand. Really came out great. Such a delicious and easy recipe.
Pati Jinich
Dec 12
It’s so great with some chicken!
Kathy K
Jul 19
Perfect Friday night dinner! Quick to prepare and assemble; spectacular to eat!!
Pati Jinich
Jul 22
So happy to hear this, Kathy.
Rusty Schaeffer
Jul 07
This is very tasty Patti. I had something very much like it on vacation in Mexico
Some years ago.
I want to make that plum cake you wrote about a few weeks ago.
Have a good week.
Rusty
Pati Jinich
Jul 08
Enjoy the cake, Rusty!
Diane Quigley
Jul 07
What taste does marjoram bring to your dishes? I’ve seen you use it before. I know oregano is smokey and thyme is a slightly lemon flavor. I know it can be used in a rub for meat. I just love how you put your twist on different dishes. Always yummy 😋😋
Pati Jinich
Jul 18
It is like oregano but more floral. And thanks for the kind words, Diane!
Carl
Jan 26
hello, we just saw this episode yesterday and i am looking forward to trying this recipe instead of the simple sauted garlic and salt pasta “sauce” i sometimes make for our Sunday afternoon snack. we’ve been cooking spiral pasta because i don’t think our grocery store sells organic spaghetti in bulk, which is the way i prefer to buy many foods. i think this was the same episode where you visited an Italian shop in New York, which i still have to look up, and used a name i think your father used to call you that sounded like baldia but that can’t be right! we also can’t drink much alcohol and i can get sleepy just from eating too much food! speaking of drinks, do you ever make Margaritas with Damiana, which is the way we first had them in Cabo San Lucas?
Pati
Feb 06
I don’t have a margarita recipe with Damiana…but I’ll try to work on one soon. And enjoy the pasta, Carl!
Mari
Jan 26
Hi Pati, this recipe doesn’t look like the “Mexican-Italian” version I saw on your show tonight. Something is missing – what gives it the orange-red coloring to the pasta? The Guajillo chiles?
Pati
Feb 14
Sometimes the chiles give off more coloring than at other times, but the color comes from the chiles. Enjoy the pasta, Mari.
Porfirio Rodriguez
Jan 25
I can’t wait to make this. I love simple pastas and I totally love the idea of adding guajillo Chile. Mi amigo de Mexico is going to love it too! I love love love your programs. Gracias
Pati
Jan 28
Mil gracias, Porfirio.
Juanita
Apr 11
First of all, my husband & I both enjoy your show! I’ve made this dish several times, but recently decided to try it with rice instead of pasta. While my husband is a big fan of rice, I am not; however, this recipe made it delicious! Thanks for all your wonderful ideas and recipes!
Pati
Apr 12
So glad you made the recipe your own, Juanita…rice is a great idea!
Gina
Feb 05
Hi Pati,
I made this dish a few weeks ago, and I loved the flavor. I also made your chicken chipotle pasta casserole with pico de guac for a few friends, and it was a big hit! I absolutely love your show. Your passion for cooking Mexican food has inspired me to try new combinations of flavors in cooking (and eating :). In fact, when I want a lift, I watch one or two of your shows, and I smile. Your delightful enthusiasm is contagious 🙂 Thank you Pati. Keep on doing what you are doing!
Pati
Feb 05
Thank you so much for your lovely message Gina!
MaryTinsa
Jan 28
I made a double batch just last week to take to work. We had it for breakfast and lunch. I think it has ruined me for regular spaghetti. However, I had pieces of guajillo chili pieces all over my kitchen and in my hair. I also missed the part about removing the seeds so it was quite warm but there was little left to take home at the end of the day. I used fresh herbs but scaled back the rosemary a bit.
I ended up using kitchen shears for part of the chili ‘dicing’ and none of my sharp chef knives seemed to do the job. I think my hands are too weak. I will consider quickly and lightly roasting the seeded chilies and reconstituting in hot water next time around. Otherwise, for my part I would need to add an extra 30+ minutes to my prep just for the chilies….and I would wear gloves. Thank you for the recipe.
Pati
Jan 29
Sorry to hear that the chiles gave you some trouble…but I’m glad that you enjoyed the pasta!
Veronica
Nov 28
Pati,
I love your show and have learned so much from watching you and following you on your journeys. I have tried your Tikin Xic and it was a big hit with my family. Can’t wait to try this pasta recipe as well. Thank you.
Pati
Nov 29
Oh I hope the pasta is as much a hit as the Tikin Xic!
Margaret Bernal
Nov 28
Pati,
Love this awesome recipe. Plus your great show on the Create channel. I have already cooked 3 of your super recipes. Margaret Bernal
Pati
Nov 28
Oh thank you so much Margaret!
Margaret Bernal
Nov 28
Park I just love your show, and I have gone to our public library and checked out your recipe books. I have a whole bunch of your recipes and have made them for my daughter & myself. To this wonderful & delicious recipe I added some onion & green bell pepper. It tasted great.
Pati
Nov 28
I’m so glad you and your daughter enjoyed it!
bernadine pipkin
Jan 10
I enjoy your program so much.It’s so easy to follow and delicious!! Thank you Patti.
Will Palmer
May 24
We love your show and this one perk our curiosity
we did the pasta tonight but I did not remember
if in your show you hydrated the guajillos or not can you please let me know if I have to hydrate or not please
thanks
Will
Pati
May 26
Hi Will, No need to rehydrate the guajillos. Just stem, seed & finely chop. Thank you for watching! I hope you try the pasta!!
Debra Stoykovich
Apr 08
We LOVE your Rodrigo Fish recipe from your cookbook…..it’s ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING!!!
Pati
Apr 09
Thanks!
Debra Stoykovich
Apr 08
Hi Pati…do I need to rehydrate the dried guajillo chilies before I use them in the pasta? THANK YOU!!!
Pati
Apr 09
No, you don’t! They soften in the oil.
Debra Stoykovich
Apr 09
Thank you Pati and I LOVE your recipes!!!
Nancy
Jan 21
Hello! Te descubrí hace solo unos meses, Pero mañana mismo empiezo por hacer la pasta! Vi el programa esta mañana, y creo que ya soy un fan!
Saludos, desde Ohio!
NG 🙂
Pati
Feb 02
Gracias!
Leslie
Aug 31
My husband doesn’t like Spaghetti and we were camping and saw your shows
We love this dish. It brings the mexican taste which my family loves. Thank you Patti
Pati
Aug 31
So glad it worked for you guys!
Joanne
Jul 23
Delicious! It reminds me of a dish my Italian mother used to make, Chicken E Olio. Very similiar, but without the chilies. Looking forward to another season of your shows!
Pati
Jul 24
Thank you, Joanne! I bet your mother’s Italian version is out of this world.
Alora
May 24
I love your show! I’m a Spanish teacher and I love to cook Mexican food. Can’t wait to try this pasta tonight!
Pati
May 26
Hope you liked it, Alora!
Sunnie
Apr 19
We aren’t big pasta eaters as a meal here however I love trying all your recipes. This is yummy, I had left over Kofta (hamberger) & I mixed it altogether & of course it was a hit!
Pati
Apr 20
That sounds like a great mix, Sunnie!
Lisa C.
Apr 05
Mucho Gusto, Pati!!
Gary M.
Mar 26
I saw this episode this morning (26 march 2014) And decided to make the pasta.
The meal is tasty but I had to used dried chilies as no fresh were to be found. The meal tasted as if it was missing the full range of flavor and I suspect it is due to the dried chilies.
Pati
Mar 28
Hola Gary, Thank you so much for trying it! The guajillo is a dried chile so sounds like you had the right one.
Imelda
Mar 16
Pati,
We saw this episode last night and today my husband made this dish, it was awesome, thank you so much for your show, I cant wait to share this recipe with my mother in Mexico.
Pati
Mar 16
So glad to hear, Imelda!