- Salt the pasta water lightly because the olives, brine, and parmesan bring plenty.
- Add parmesan off heat to create an emulsion instead of stringy cheese.
Aperitivo moodDinner · Italian American
Olive Hour Dirty Martini Pasta
Silky spaghetti with Castelvetrano olives, lemon, parmesan, and a briny butter sauce, cocktail energy, dinner logic.
Trend signalViral cocktail to pasta trendWhy it is trending · Delish viral recipe roundup ↗MoodRecipe developed this original version after tracking the wider social food format. It is not a transcription of the linked recipe.
25 minutesRelaxed difficulty20g protein
Why it fits
Briny, glossy, and a little theatrical, it creates date night atmosphere without opening a cocktail shaker.
01 Gather
Ingredients
Makes 2 generous servings
- 10 oz spaghetti
- ⅓ cup sliced Castelvetrano olives
- 2 tbsp olive brine
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 small shallot
- 1 garlic clove
- ½ cup grated parmesan
- 1 lemon
- ¼ cup parsley
- Black pepper
02 Make
The good part
- 01
Boil spaghetti in moderately salted water and reserve 1 cup pasta water.
- 02
Soften minced shallot and garlic in 1 tablespoon butter; add olives, brine, and ½ cup pasta water.
- 03
Add spaghetti and remaining butter, tossing vigorously off heat; fold in parmesan a little at a time until glossy.
- 04
Finish with lemon zest, a squeeze of juice, parsley, and plenty of cracked pepper.
03 Know before you cook
Small details, better dinner.
Practical notes for getting the texture right, adapting the ingredients, and saving what is left.
- Use capers plus a splash of their brine if Castelvetrano olives are unavailable.
- For an adults only echo of the cocktail, add 1 tablespoon dry vermouth with the brine and simmer it fully.
Refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat gently with water; the fresh lemon and herbs are best added again after warming.
Recipe imagery is an original digital editorial illustration of the named dish. See our publishing and imagery standards.
Per serving, approximately
610 calories20g protein5g fiber
Nutrition is an estimate and may vary with brands and portions.04 The kitchen edit
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