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Spaghetti Marinara

This recipe guides you through creating a classic, flavorful spaghetti marinara. It involves sautéing aromatics, simmering hand-crushed tomatoes into a rich sauce, and then tossing it with perfectly cooked spaghetti, finished with butter and fresh basil for a simple yet delicious Italian meal ready in about 40 minutes.
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Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 people
Calories 4445.9 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Skillet
  • 1 Large Pot
  • 1 Chef's knife
  • 1 Cutting Board
  • 1 Colander

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling
  • 4 cloves garlic thinly sliced
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 28- ounce can whole peeled tomatoes crushed by hand
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
  • 1 pound spaghetti
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into cubes

Instructions
 

  • Combine the olive oil and garlic in a large skillet. Cook over medium heat until the garlic is golden around the edges, about 3 minutes. Add the onion, oregano and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the onion is soft but not browned, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and their juices and 1/2 cup water; continue cooking until the sauce is slightly reduced, about 20 minutes. Stir in the basil and season with salt. Keep warm over low heat.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain.
  • Add the pasta to the sauce along with the butter and 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water. Increase the heat to medium and toss to coat, adding the remaining cooking water as needed to loosen the sauce. Transfer the pasta to bowls and drizzle with olive oil.

Notes

For the marinara, ensure the garlic turns golden, not brown, to prevent bitterness. Hand-crushing the tomatoes provides a superior rustic texture. The reserved pasta water is crucial; its starch helps emulsify the sauce, creating a silky texture that clings beautifully to the pasta. Finishing the sauce with butter off the heat adds richness and gloss, enhancing the overall mouthfeel. Always taste and adjust seasoning, especially salt, throughout the cooking process. Fresh basil should be stirred in at the very end to preserve its vibrant flavor and aroma.