Pasta al Pomodoro (Spaghetti With Tomato Sauce Recipe)

It is time for a recipe fitting the brand of the blog again! Pasta al pomodoro, or spaghetti with tomato sauce, is an Italian classic with tomato at the heart of the dish. This recipe is a classic for a reason. Pasta al pomodoro is simple to make and delicious. What do you need more than that, right? Also, spaghetti pomodoro is a recipe with a lot of possible variety. In this simple dish, the quality of ingredients and cooking technique make all the difference. You can make this super basic and quick, or put more time and effort into making spaghetti with tomato sauce the best it can taste. In this recipe, I will give you a few tips on how I like to get the most out of this dish and show you a more sophisticated way of preparing this recipe. 

What makes Pasta al Pomodoro so Great: 

In my opinion, it comes down to two main factors. This recipe tastes amazing, and it is easy to prepare. The fruity tomato sauce and spaghetti go so well together. Its flavor is simple, mild, slightly sweet, and just overall satisfying. This recipe is loved by everybody, no matter if young or old. In my opinion, it is a perfect family recipe. And that’s maybe why it is so beloved. Eating it brings up childhood memories! 

Ingredients for making Pasta al Pomodoro: 

• Spaghetti
• Tomato sauce
• Basil 
• Olive oil 
• Salt
• Optional: garlic
• Optional: black pepper

Regarding pasta, I like to stick with spaghetti. It is how I am used to my pasta al pomodoro. 

Tomato Sauce Deep-Dive: 

Most of the experience of this dish depends on the choice of tomato sauce. If you want a quick and simple pasta al pomodoro, a store-bought tomato sauce will be the right choice. Here, quality makes a big difference as well. I’d recommend experimenting with different brands to find the best tomato sauce possible. The tomato sauce makes all the difference. 

That’s why I am going the extra mile with a delicious homemade tomato sauce. I’d recommend making a big batch of tomato sauce once so you always have delicious homemade tomato sauce in your pantry. It is quite some work to make delicious tomato sauce at home, but if you have a lot of it, it well justifies the effort! And this pasta al pomodoro recipe will thank you for it. This dish is an occasion where homemade tomato sauce shines through. 

Aside from tomato sauce, I like to keep it super simple. High-quality extra virgin olive oil is also key for this dish. It will add creaminess to the sauce and lots of flavor. 

Other Ingredients:

The only thing missing now is seasoning. A bit of fresh basil will bring the dish to the next level. If your tomato sauce is unseasoned, you will want to have a clove of garlic to add to the sauce. Aside from that, only salt is needed, and an optional crack of black pepper if you feel like it. I have a deliciously fragrant black pepper that will pair perfectly with this dish. But this addition is a bit untraditional. 

Making your Tomato Sauce: 

If you don’t have fancy equipment, making homemade tomato sauce will require some labor. Still, it is a meditative and rewarding process. It’s a perfect opportunity to listen to some great music or podcasts. It all begins with the choice of tomatoes, as some are better for making sauces than others. Then, you can blanch the tomatoes, peel them, and take the seeds out. To cook the tomato sauce, melt some minced shallot and garlic in olive oil before adding the tomato. Then, the sauce needs to simmer for a few hours with some added basil before blending it into a creamy smooth sauce. For canning, you will need some extra lemon juice to contribute acidity. Going into all tips and tricks for making a great tomato sauce will go out of the scope of this recipe. I’d recommend checking out my guide on how to make the most delicious homemade tomato sauce. I cooked my spaghetti al pomodoro with one of the jars from when I made the tomato sauce recipe, and it worked amazingly for this recipe. 

Pasta al Pomodoro Recipe: 

Once you have the ingredients all figured out, it’s time to make the pasta al pomodoro. From here on, it is easy peasy.

The Sauce: 

First, add some olive oil to your pan. If your tomato sauce is plain, add one whole crushed clove of garlic to the oil and allow it to infuse. We will simmer the sauce with the garlic and discard the garlic clove before plating. Depending on the flavor of your sauce, you can add a few basil leaves to season the tomato sauce. I skipped the garlic and basil, as my homemade sauce was already perfectly flavored for this recipe. 

The Pasta: 

Next, cook your spaghetti to package instructions in generously salted boiling water. I’d recommend undercooking it and finishing the pasta in the tomato sauce. I am keeping my spaghetti a minute shy of al dente. 

Combine the pasta and sauce well. If you need to thin the sauce, you can add a bit of the pasta water. 

Plating & Garnishing:

I plated the spaghetti al pomodoro by making beautiful nests using a ladle and tongs. I finished the dish by garnishing the pasta al pomodoro with fresh basil, extra-virgin olive oil, and high-quality black pepper.

And that is all there is to this Italian classic. I hope you enjoyed this pasta al pomodoro recipe. I’m happy I finally got around to sharing more tomato recipes here! Let me know what you think in the comments below. 

Some more recipe inspirations: 

• Spaghetti alla Nerano
• Vegan artichoke pasta
• Spagehtti alla puttanesca 
• Penne all’arranbiata 
• Spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino 
• Panzanella recipe
• Vegan pasta with spinach
• Simple cherry tomato pasta
• Pesto Pasta

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