Spaghetti pasta can be found in two different forms; fresh spaghetti or dried spaghetti. Fresh spaghetti can be prepared with a rolling pin and knife, however, a home pasta machine allows you to create perfectly cylindrical noodles effortlessly. Also, commercial versions of fresh spaghetti can be found in stores. UPDATED July 7, 2016: eating authentic Italian pasta as part of the Mediterranean diet, can actually aid in weight loss according to a recent study. CAVEAT: If you substitute any of the ingredients which I list, or alter any of the directions, you must realize that you will not have the same outcome, or the same flavor as the sauce that I describe here. Cooking your pizza sauce? You’re doing it wrong! The best of the best are Pomodoro San Marzano dell’Agro Sarnese-Nocerino, DOP = the REAL San Marzano tomatoes. Yes, it’s a mouthful, but this wording, along with two seals of approval guaranteeing the quality of these tomatoes is your way to knowing you are paying for the best quality tomatoes. The cans will always say “pomodori pelati Italiani”, which simply means “Italian peeled tomatoes”.

Tomato is indisputably one of the most versatile vegetables there is. Tomatoes can be eaten as such or used in salads straight from the field as well as cooked in several ways. So it is no wonder tomato is an important part of many popular recipes, especially in Italian cuisine. It is indeed the gentle and elegant taste of tomato that completes many classic pizza and pasta dishes. TIP: allocate one wooden spoon for making your Italian tomato sauce. Don’t use it for other dishes, especially something like a white sauce, as it can flavor more delicate recipes. Here’s mine; can you tell I’ve made quite a lot of tomato sauce over the years? Stir with a wooden spoon and lower to a medium heat, or higher. It is important that this sauce is cooked at a fast simmer, as it is cooked briefly. Add the salt and continue to simmer at a fast pace, and stir often, WITHOUT THE LID.You can put some sauce in a bowl and set it aside at this point. This way you can add more to the pasta if it needs it (some people like less sauce, and some like more.) When the pasta is almost al dente, start adding it to the sauce in the pan. Once, I gave a friend a recipe with instructions on which specific ingredients to use. The friend made the recipe and then told me, “It didn’t taste as good as yours.” After a brief investigation, I realized that she had substituted inferior quality ingredients. If you want the best results, use the best ingredients!

Serving pasta in a bowl, instead of a plate, keeps it hotter. I served it on a plate here as it’s nicer to show in photos, but I always serve pasta in bowls (this is the norm in Italy, too.)Taste the sauce, if it doesn't taste delicious, it probably just needs a little more salt. Turn off the heat and add the fresh basil (I tear mine into pieces). Also, unless absolutely necessary, do not wash your basil. Wipe it with a damp paper towel instead, so the water doesn't ruin the flavor and aroma. Actually, this is not “my” recipe—this is a basic recipe that millions of Italians have used for ages to make one type of Italian pasta sauce. It’s the equivalent to posting a recipe for a basic hamburger in the US. The history behind the Spaghetti Marinara sauce recipe has been quite unclear to this day and there are numerous differing rumors related to the origins and history of the sauce. The most popular theory states that the sauce was invented in the mid-16th century by cooks returning from the Americas on Neapolitan ships after discovering the tomato. Legend has it that cooks combined the newly discovered fruit with garlic and herbs to create a sauce that was long-lasting, making it ideal for longer trips overseas. Another version argues that the sauce was prepared by the wives of the Neapolitan sailors. Nevertheless, the first Italian cookbook to introduce tomato sauce was published later on in the late 1600s. The tomato sauce in the book Lo Scalco alla Moderna can be now considered more as a modern type of tomato salsa. THE BEST ITALIAN TOMATOES FOR A FLAWLESS SPAGHETTI MARINARA Now, what is a marinara sauce in Italy? Unless it’s a pizza, marinara refers to seafood (the English word “marine” comes from Latin. “Mare” in Italian means “sea”.) So this recipe is more of a marinara sauce in Italy. A bit confusing, especially since I just realized that most Americans searching for this recipe are googling “marinara sauce”, and they’ll probably never find it! 😭 Just like pasta, spaghetti is made from grain (e.g. flour) and water. Traditional Italian spaghetti is commonly made from durum wheat semolina. In most cases, spaghetti is created with refined flour, giving the pasta a white color. However, whole-wheat and multigrain spaghetti are also available, which are typically higher in fiber and nutrients.