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For an authentic Italian dinner, try my pasta al pomodoro! Spaghetti is tossed with a simple and delicious San Marzano tomato sauce and topped with basil and Parmesan in this easy recipe. | justalittlebitofbacon.com #italianrecipes #pastarecipes #easydinner #italian #spaghetti #pasta #tomatosauce
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Italian Pasta al Pomodoro

For an authentic Italian dinner, try my pasta al pomodoro! Spaghetti is tossed with a simple and delicious San Marzano tomato sauce and topped with basil and Parmesan in this easy recipe.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Keyword pasta pomodoro, spaghetti and tomato sauce
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 350kcal
Author justalittlebitofbacon

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 28-oz can San Marzano tomatoes
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper or fresh black pepper, optional
  • 1 lb spaghetti
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, sliced
  • 1-2 oz fresh shredded parmesan cheese

Instructions

Make the Pomodoro Sauce

  • Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium low.
  • Add garlic and a pinch of kosher salt. Gently warm the garlic until it's soft, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the tomatoes with their juice. Raise the heat and bring to a boil, then lower the heat to medium and simmer for 15 minutes.
  • Puree the sauce in a blender until smooth.
  • Add kosher salt. If using add red pepper or black pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

Make the Pasta

  • While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  • Add spaghetti (or other pasta of your choice) and cook 2 minutes less than the package instructions.
  • Scoop out ~2 cups of water and drain the spaghetti. Return the drained spaghetti to the pot.
  • Add 1 cup of pasta water and 1 cup of the tomato sauce. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently for 2-3 minutes, or until the sauce is thick and clinging to the noodles. Add more water if needed.

Serve Dinner

  • Serve the spaghetti with fresh sliced basil, shredded parmesan cheese, and more pomodoro sauce.

Notes

  • Tomato Sauce: For an expanded discussion on making the sauce see my Pomodoro Sauce post.
  • Variations: A few ideas are to add diced or pearl sized fresh mozzarella, cooked chicken or shrimp, a swirl of ricotta, or fresh diced tomatoes.
  • Pasta: A fun option for the pasta is bucatini (which is a spaghetti-like tube pasta).
  • Basil in the Tomatoes: San Marzano tomatoes have a sprig of basil included in the can. Discard this basil and use the tomatoes.

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcal