Grumpys Garlic Spaghetti

• 2 cups Extra Virgin Olive Oil (For Wok)
• 6 cloves Garlic, Large (at Least! More Is So Much Better!)
• 2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil (For Pasta)
• 3 Tablespoons Kosher Salt
• 2 Tablespoons Dried Sweet Basil
• 2- 1/2 pounds Good Quality Deli Ham, Shaved Thin And Rough Cut Into 1/2" Strips
• 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
• 20 dashes Tabasco Sauce (does Not Have To Be Exact, Just Add A Lot)
• 2 pounds Vermicelli Or Other Thin Pasta
• 2 sticks Butter (NOT Margarine)
• 1/2 pounds Chunk Of Parmesan Or Other Hard Cheese, Grated For Topping

1. 1.
2. In a large, well-seasoned wok put 2 cups olive oil.
3. Add the garlic to the olive oil using a garlic press.
4. Turn the burner to medium heat.
5. 2.
6. Fill large pasta pot with cold water.
7. To this add 2 Tbs olive oil and the salt.
8. Heat to boiling.
9. 3.
10. After several minutes in the wok, some of the garlic will start to float.
11. When this happens, add the dried basil.
12. Reduce heat slightly and simmer until most of the garlic is floating (about 5 mins)
13. 4.
14. When the garlic is floating, add the ham to the wok (gently!).
15. Using a large fork and spoon, toss the ham with the oil, garlic and basil mixture to evenly distribute.
16. Cover and simmer 10 minutes on medium heat, or until the liquid in the wok has doubled.
17. This is water from the ham.
18. 5.
19. Add the lemon juice once the liquid appears to have doubled.
20. Cover and simmer 10 more minutes.
21. 6.
22. Shake Tabasco sauce liberally over the wok.
23. It will look like you are adding enough that you will taste it, but I promise you will not.
24. Trust me, it is not the same without it.
25. The Tabasco will intensify the garlic and olive oil flavors without adding heat to the dish.
26. 7.
27. By now the water for the pasta should be boiling.
28. Add the pasta and cook until it is exactly al dente.
29. Any longer will result in a nasty globby pasta that doesnt work well with this sauce.
30. He also says not to rinse the pasta, but I have done it both ways and it works either way.
31. 8.
32. As the pasta boils, add one stick of butter to the wok.
33. Turn off the burner.
34. 9.
35. When the pasta is ready and drained, pour it into a large container (we use a roasting pan) and toss with the second stick of butter until the butter is completely melted and distributed.
36. 10.
37. Carefully pour the mixture from the wok over the pasta and toss gently, or serve as is.
38. Serve with grated hard cheeses such as Parmesan, asiago, romano.
39. I like a blend of all three.
40. And dont be stingy on the cheese, the saltiness of it just makes this dish out of this world.
41. This makes a ton of pasta.
42. My dad usually does a double batch (4lbs of pasta!)
43. for our family of 10, and there are always tons of leftovers.

olive oil, garlic, olive oil, kosher salt, sweet basil, deli ham, lemon juice, tabasco sauce, vermicelli, butter, cheese

Taken from tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/grumpye28099s-garlic-spaghetti/ (may not work)