Classic Marinara Pasta
A vibrant and flavorful tomato sauce tossed with spaghetti and finished with fresh basil. This is a foundational Italian recipe that every home cook should master.
Bright and garlicky tomato marinara sauce served over perfectly cooked spaghetti.
Nutrition per serving
Ingredients
pasta
sauce
seasoning
garnish
Instructions
Saute garlic
Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add thinly sliced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for 2 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden. Do not let the garlic burn.
Add tomatoes
Pour in the canned tomatoes and crush them by hand as they go into the pan. Add salt and sugar, then stir everything together. Bring to a gentle simmer.
Simmer the sauce
Cook the sauce uncovered on medium-low heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce should thicken and deepen in color. Adjust seasoning as needed.
Cook the pasta
While the sauce simmers, cook spaghetti in a large pot of heavily salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 240ml of pasta water before draining.
Combine and serve
Add the drained spaghetti directly to the sauce and toss over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Add pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce. Finish with torn fresh basil and a drizzle of olive oil.
Substitutions
Common mistakes
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