Italian

Weeknight Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce

by:
May  6, 2019
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0 Ratings
Photo by Nicole
  • Prep time 20 minutes
  • Cook time 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Serves 4-6
Author Notes

Adapted from Marcella Hazan's Tomato Sauce With Onion & Butter.

When the weather warms up, or like me, you just returned from a girls' trip, an easy, somewhat healthy, recipe is necessary to ease back into reality. Since tomatoes are not yet in season in Washington, D.C., I found that roasting a mix of grape and Roma tomatoes with some Italian seasoning is an oh-so-worth-it step to bring out their juices and their sweetness. I added some crushed red pepper for some heat, as well as garlic and basil, the latter two are necessary ingredients for any Italian-style meal. For a healthier twist, I used whole wheat pasta and a mix of ghee and olive oil, although you could use all butter or butter and olive oil. Top with a drizzle of olive oil and some Parmesan cheese, and even the biggest carnivore-lover will not miss the meat! —Nicole

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 2 pounds mix of grape and Roma tomatoes, with the Roma tomatoes quartered
  • 3 tablespoons ghee or butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1.5 onions, peeled and halved
  • 5 sprigs Basil
  • Italian seasoning, to taste
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • crushed red pepper, to taste
  • 1 pound whole wheat spaghetti
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  2. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place the grape tomatoes in one, and the quartered Roma tomatoes in the other
  3. Drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning
  4. Roast for 20-30 minutes (I found that the grape tomatoes were done in 20, while the Roma tomatoes needed more time)
  5. Place the roasted tomatoes, their juices, the onions, garlic, ghee/butter, olive oil, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper in a saucepot. Simmer the sauce, uncovered, for about 45 minutes
  6. When the sauce is almost done, make the pasta. Boil salted water and cook the pasta about 1 minute shy of al dente.
  7. Drain the pasta and toss with the sauce
  8. Serve with basil, a drizzle of olive oil, and some grated cheese if you choose.

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