Mince 6-8 cloves of fresh garlic finely and set aside.

In a large skillet, melt ½ cup of unsalted butter over medium-low heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.

Bring a pot of water to a boil, add salt, and cook pasta according to package directions until al dente (8-10 minutes).

Reserve ¼ cup of pasta cooking water before draining. Drain pasta without rinsing.

Return pasta to skillet with garlic butter over low heat. Toss to coat.

Gradually add reserved pasta water until desired creaminess is reached, tossing continuously.

Stir in parsley and Parmesan cheese. Add red pepper flakes if desired. Mix until evenly combined.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve immediately, garnishing with additional Parmesan and parsley.