Classic Tomato Spaghetti Sauce Recipes

SPAGHETTI WITH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and sauté for 2 more minutes, until you can really smell the garlic, and it starts to turn golden. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, salt and pepper, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes if using (you can also add those to portions of the sauce at the end for those who like it hot). Bring to a simmer, lower the heat to medium-low, and simmer gently for about 20 minutes (it can simmer for much longer, if you want; it will just get even richer and more concentrated). Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, add a couple tablespoons of salt, and allow the water to return to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions.
• Drain the pasta, return it to the pot and pour about half the sauce over, more of less according to how saucy you like it, stirring to combine. Transfer to a serving bowl or serve into individual bowls, topping each portion with Parmesan, fresh basil, and red pepper flakes as desired (or pass the toppings in small bowls at the table).

CLASSIC TOMATO SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• Pick the basil leaves onto a chopping board (reserving a few baby leaves to garnish), then roughly chop the remaining leaves and finely chop the stalks.
• Peel and finely slice the onion and garlic. If using fresh, cut the tomatoes in half, then roughly chop them or carefully open the tins of tomatoes.
• Put a saucepan on a medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the onion, then cook for around 7 minutes, or until soft and lightly golden.
• Stir in the garlic and basil stalks for a few minutes, then add the fresh or tinned tomatoes and the vinegar.
• Season with a tiny pinch of salt and pepper, then continue cooking for around 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in the chopped basil leaves, then reduce to low and leave to tick away. Meanwhile...
• Carefully fill a large pot three-quarters of the way up with boiling water, add a tiny pinch of salt and bring back to the boil.
• Add the spaghetti and cook according to packet instructions - you want to cook your pasta until it is al dente. This translates as 'to the tooth' and means that it should be soft enough to eat, but still have a bit of a bite and firmness to it. Use the timings on the packet instructions as a guide, but try some just before the time is up to make sure it's perfectly cooked.
• Once the pasta is done, ladle out and reserve a cup of the cooking water and keep it to one side, then drain in a colander over the sink and tip the spaghetti back into the pot.
• Stir the spaghetti into the sauce, adding a splash of the pasta water to loosen, if needed.
• Serve with the reserved basil leaves sprinkled over the top and use a microplane to finely grate the Parmesan cheese, then sprinkle over.

CLASSIC TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, bay leaf, oregano, garlic, and salt and cook, stirring often, until the onions are soft and translucent, about 10 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste and continue cooking for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and stir constantly until the sauce begins to boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 1 hour, stirring every 5 minutes or so to prevent the sauce on the bottom of the pot from burning. Taste and season with additional salt, if desired. Remove the bay leaf before serving.

SPAGHETTI SAUCE WITH FRESH TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic powder; cook and stir until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, sugar, basil, parsley, and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens, 1 to 2 hours.