Easy Garlic Spaghetti Recipe (Indian Style Vegetarian Spaghetti) is a simple, delicious pasta dish prepared under 30 minutes by tossing boiled spaghetti noodles in aromatic olive oil, lightly crushed garlic, caramelized onions, red chilli flakes, and black pepper. Perfect for beginners, busy weeknight dinners, or a quick kids’ lunch box!
Food blogging has made me try and taste varieties of recipes from various cuisines which I had not even imagined in my life. Being a South Indian, my whole food world was just revolving around Idli, dosa, poori, and chapathi. But after I became a food blogger, my eating habits and cooking have changed completely. I am really proud and happy to be a passionate food blogger.
Pasta, Hakka Noodles, Tacos, Spaghetti, Quesadilla, Tortilla – all these terms were very new to me until I saw them in fellow bloggers’ blogs. I did not even know how to cook them perfectly. Slowly I am learning everything and blogging the same to help beginners like me. I am happy that I am trying out various international recipes in my kitchen. My recent crush was to try spaghetti at home.
Spaghetti is basically a type of noodles made from durum wheat semolina. Spaghetti is the plural form of the Italian word spaghetto, which is a diminutive of spago, meaning “thin string” or “twine”. It is a staple food of traditional Italian cuisine. Cooking spaghetti is not so difficult as I thought; its procedure is more like cooking noodles.
As a beginner, I wanted to make an easy and simple Indian style vegetarian spaghetti recipe. I found this easy stir-fried, garlicky spaghetti recipe from Chowhound’s basic garlicky spaghetti recipe as I didn’t have any vegetables in hand. I made some modifications as per my family’s taste buds and tried it for a Sunday breakfast. It came out really well with an awesome flavor of roasted onion and garlic in olive oil.
This is just a basic spaghetti recipe. For variations and to make it more rich, you can add sliced, sautéed vegetables and grated cheese on top before serving. Sendhil & Raksha gave a big thumbs up after eating! We relished it with tomato sauce. It’s a quick breakfast recipe for bachelors and working women as there is very little chopping work. Kids would love this for sure. Do try it out for a change and share your feedback here. Now let’s see how to cook spaghetti and make this Indian style, vegetarian garlic spaghetti recipe with step by step pictures.
Check out some of my International recipes in Indian style below:
- Eggless pancakes
- Indian Vegetarian quesadilla
- Indian style Veg masala pasta recipe
- Veg tacos recipe
- Fruit & Yogurt parfait
- Nasi goreng / Indonesian fried rice
- Veg Hakka noodles
Quick Notes for US & Abroad Kitchens
- Spaghetti Noodle Selection: Look for spaghetti made with 100% durum wheat semolina (such as Barilla, De Cecco, or Trader Joe’s). Whole wheat spaghetti or gluten-free corn/quinoa spaghetti also works wonderfully with this garlic stir fry.
- Salt the Boiling Water Generously: Do not skip salting the boiling water. The pasta absorbs seasoning from the water as it expands, which gives the dish its savory foundation.
- Reserve Pasta Water: Before draining, save 1/4 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water. If the spaghetti feels slightly dry after tossing with the garlic oil, splash in 1 to 2 tablespoons of this water to emulsify the oil and coat each noodle silkily.
- Cheese & Herb Variations: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, Pecorino Romano, or a mild white cheddar can be sprinkled on top before serving. Fresh Italian basil or parsley also adds a fragrant herbal lift.
Easy Garlic Spaghetti Recipe – Indian Vegetarian Spaghetti
Ingredients
To Boil Spaghetti
- 200 g Spaghetti noodles (approx. 7 oz) durum wheat semolina
- 10 cups Water (approx. 2.4 liters / 80 fl oz) for boiling
- 1 tsp Salt
- few drops Olive oil or cooking oil
For Stir Frying & Tossing
- 2 tbsp Olive oil or cooking oil (approx. 30 ml / 1 fl oz)
- 10 cloves Garlic (approx. 25g / 0.9 oz) finely chopped and lightly crushed
- 2 nos Big onions (approx. 150g / 5.3 oz) sliced thinly
- 1.5 tsp Red chilli flakes (approx. 4g) (adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp Black pepper powder (approx. 2.5g) freshly cracked
- ¼ tsp Soy sauce (optional, for savory umami)
- 2 sprigs Spring onions (scallions) finely chopped (for garnish)
- Salt as needed
Instructions
- In a wide deep pan or pot, bring 10 cups of water to a rolling boil adding 1 tsp salt and a few drops of oil. Add the unbroken spaghetti noodles into the water. As they begin to cook and soften, gently press them down so they submerge completely into the boiling water.
- Cook on high flame for 12 to 15 minutes. Test a strand of spaghetti by pressing or biting; it should be soft yet slightly firm to the bite (al dente). Switch off flame and immediately transfer the cooked spaghetti to a colander (steel sieve) to drain excess water completely. Set aside.
- Thinly slice the onions. Finely chop the garlic cloves and crush them slightly using a mortar and pestle. Finely chop the spring onions.
- Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a wide kadai or pan. Sauté the crushed garlic cloves on medium heat for a few seconds until fragrant and lightly golden. Add the sliced onions and salt; sauté until the onions turn soft and translucent.
- Add the red chilli flakes and sauté for 30 seconds. Lastly, add the drained cooked spaghetti, black pepper powder, and soy sauce (if using). Gently toss using a fork until well combined and the noodles are glossy without breaking.
- Check taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with finely chopped spring onions. Serve hot immediately with tomato ketchup or sauce. (Optional: sprinkle grated cheese on top before serving!).
Notes
- Adjust the quantity of chilli flakes and pepper powder as per your taste.
- If you like tomato flavor in spaghetti, you can add a tbsp of tomato sauce while mixing.
- For variations, you can try adding thinly sliced capsicum, carrot, mushroom and potato while sautéing onions.
- You can add some grated cheese on top before serving.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Spaghetti is done when it is al dente—soft and pliable on the outside with a slight, firm chew in the center. Taste a strand around the 12-minute mark of boiling. Never overboil, as overly soft noodles will break when tossed in the hot skillet.
In authentic cooking, spaghetti noodles are never broken. As the bottom ends soften in the boiling water (within 30 seconds), gently press the noodles down with tongs or a fork until the entire length is submerged.
Yes! Thinly sliced bell peppers (capsicum), shredded carrots, button mushrooms, sweet corn, or baby spinach can be sautéed along with the onions for extra color, crunch, and nutrition.
Yes! This stir-fried garlic spaghetti stays flavorful and does not turn sticky at room temperature, making it a great quick lunch box choice. Toss with an extra teaspoon of olive oil so the noodles stay separated.
Try this easy and yummy Indian Vegetarian garlicky spaghetti recipe and enjoy!
