Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

Five ingredients: spaghetti ($1.29), garlic (6 cloves, $0.50), olive oil, red pepper flakes, and parsley. Total: about $3.50. This is the dish that line cooks make at 2 AM after their shift — because it's fast, cheap, and genuinely delicious. Slowly toast sliced garlic in olive oil until golden, toss with al dente spaghetti and pasta water, finish with parsley and pepper flakes. The starchy pasta water emulsifies with the oil into a silky sauce that coats every strand. Michelin-starred simplicity for pocket change.