One Pot Fresh Tomato Sauce with Spaghetti
8 oz/250 grams uncooked spaghetti makes 4 cups cooked, so this recipe makes about 8 cups spaghetti.
- 3 lbs. ripe tomatoes, halved
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- salt
- freshly ground pepper
- 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
- 1/4 tsp hot red chili flakes
- 1 lb spaghetti
- 2 cups boiling water
- 3 Tbsp olive oil or butter
- handful fresh basil leaves, torn into pieces
- Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated
Heat 2 Tbsp oil in a large 12-inch deep pot.
Add tomatoes, cut side down.
Add 1/2 cup boiling water.
Cook 10-15 minutes to soften tomatoes.
Add garlic and hot chili flakes.
Turn tomatoes over, cook another 5 minutes, adding more boiling water if necessary to prevent sticking.
Break tomatoes up with a wooden spoon and cook, stirring, till sauce-like.
Add dry spaghetti to the tomatoes in the pot and stir in to soften.
A half cup at a time, as the spaghetti absorbs the liquid, add 2 cups boiling water, stirring and cooking until spaghetti is al dente, about 10-15 minutes.
Stir in salt and pepper to taste, oil or butter and basil.
Sprinkle with grated Parmigiano Reggiano.
Fresh Tomato Sauce with Linguine
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
- 1 tsp crushed fennel seeds
- kosher salt
- 4 cloves garlic, pressed
- 1 Tbsp finely chopped rosemary leaves
- 1/4 to 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 lbs ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped
- 4 anchovy fillets (optional)
- 1/4 cup dried porcini mushrooms (optional)
- 12 oz linguine
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- grated parmesan and basil leaves for serving
If using, soak dried mushrooms in boiling water until soft, about 15 minutes, transfer to cutting board and finely chop. Set aside.
Heat oil in a a large skillet on medium low
Add onion, celery, fennel seeds, 1/2 tsp salt.
Cook, covered, stirring occasionally, 12 minutes.
Stir in garlic, rosemary, red pepper.
Cook 2 minutes.
Add chopped tomatoes and optional anchovies and mushrooms, if using.
Simmer, covered, 12 minutes.
Uncover and continue to simmer about 5 minutes more, until some liquid evaporates.
Cook linguine as per package directions.
Stir butter into tomato sauce.
Stir in cooked pasta and toss.
Plate, serving with parmesan and fresh basil leaves.
