People love dirty martinis and people love pasta. Mixing the two to make dirty martini pasta was inevitable. Here's how to make it.
This Dirty Martini Pasta Is Going to Change Your Life
When I first saw that a recipe for dirty martini pasta was trending on social media, my immediate thought was, why didn’t someone think of this before? After all, people love dirty martinis and people love pasta—at least I do.
Just like everything bagel seasoning or bourbon-barrel flavor, “dirty martini” has become a popular descriptor for food beyond cocktails. We’ve seen the rise of dirty martini salads and dirty martini deviled eggs, for instance. So dirty martini pasta just makes sense—and we knew we’d have to try it.
What is dirty martini pasta?
Dirty martini pasta, while it has a catchy name and uses the elements of a classic dirty martini cocktail, has its basis in fairly traditional pasta recipes. I don’t think an Italian grandma would get too angry with this American take. Olive, lemon, garlic, parsley, oil and butter are all classic pasta ingredients. Crumbled blue cheese may be a bit of a twist, but this is a solid recipe and the result is delicious.
How to Make Dirty Martini Pasta
I’ve expanded the original TikTok recipe here to serve four people. I’ve also turned up the volume on the flavors a bit by using more butter, garlic and lemon than the original. For olives, green varieties like Castelvetrano or Manzanilla work best. Be sure to save the olive brine for cooking. Crumbled blue cheese brings great funky flavor to this recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti, linguini or other long pasta
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3-4 cloves garlic
- 20-24 olives, chopped (10-ounce container)
- Zest of 2 lemons
- 2 tablespoons gin
- 3 tablespoons olive brine
- Juice of one lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Crumbled blue cheese (optional)
- Parsley, freshly chopped
Directions
Step 1: Prepare the pasta
Boil the pasta in salted water according to the directions on the package. Drain the pasta, then toss it with a tablespoon of butter.
Step 2: Start the sauce with saute
Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook it for 1 minute. Add the chopped olives and lemon zest. Cook them until garlic turns golden.
Step 3: Add the liquid
Add gin to deglaze the saucepan, stirring until it evaporates. Then add the olive brine, lemon juice and 3 tablespoons of butter, stirring until they’re combined.
Step 4: Add pasta, garnish and serve
Add the cooked pasta to the saucepan, toss to combine, and season it with salt and pepper to taste. Top the dirty martini pasta with more chopped olives, parsley, lemon zest and blue cheese (if you desire).
How to Store Dirty Martini Pasta
Allow your dirty martini pasta to cool, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
How long does dirty martini pasta last?
When stored properly, dirty martini pasta will last for up to four days in the fridge.
Dirty Martini Pasta Tips
How do I make dirty martini pasta creamier?
To make dirty martini pasta creamier, add a bit of the pasta cooking water. When the pasta is nearly done cooking, reserve a half cup of the water. Add a few splashes in Step 3 to boost the sauce. If you’d like a looser consistency and more creaminess, add a bit more to the pasta, stirring well to incorporate it into the sauce.
What can I serve with dirty martini pasta?
A dirty martini, of course! Serve dirty martini pasta with a side salad and some crusty bread (or garlic bread) so you can sop up any leftover sauce.
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