Marcella Hazan's 3-Ingredient Tomato Sauce with Pasta
Marcella Hazan's 3-Ingredient Tomato Sauce with Pasta
Ingredients
For the Tomato Sauce
- 2 cans whole peeled tomatoes, (28 ounce each)
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
- 2 yellow onions, medium, peeled and halved
For the Pasta
- 1 pound pasta, such as fettuccine or tagliatelle
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt, for pasta water, plus more as needed
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup pasta cooking water, reserved
Instructions
- 1
Pour the two cans of whole peeled tomatoes into a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Add the 1 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter and the two peeled and halved yellow onions to the pot with the tomatoes.
⏱️ 2 min
- 2
Bring the sauce mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low and cook uncovered for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, allowing the sauce to gently bubble and the flavors to meld. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
⏱️ 75 min
- 3
Once the sauce has simmered, carefully remove the cooked onion halves from the pot using tongs and discard them (or save for another use).
⏱️ 1 min
- 4
If you prefer a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender to briefly blend the sauce to your desired consistency. Alternatively, you can leave it chunky, as is traditional.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
While the sauce is finishing, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 tablespoon of kosher salt to the boiling water, then add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente.
⏱️ 9 min
- 6
Before draining the pasta, reserve about 1/4 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water. Then, using tongs, transfer the cooked pasta directly from the pot into the pot with the tomato sauce.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Add 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese to the pasta and sauce. Pour in the reserved 1/4 cup of pasta cooking water. Toss everything together thoroughly until the pasta is well coated and the sauce is emulsified.
⏱️ 3 min
- 8
Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with extra grated Parmesan cheese.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Marcella Hazan's 3-Ingredient Tomato Sauce with Pasta
Ingredients
For the Tomato Sauce
- 2 cans whole peeled tomatoes, (28 ounce each)
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
- 2 yellow onions, medium, peeled and halved
For the Pasta
- 1 pound pasta, such as fettuccine or tagliatelle
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt, for pasta water, plus more as needed
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup pasta cooking water, reserved
Instructions
- 1
Pour the two cans of whole peeled tomatoes into a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Add the 1 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter and the two peeled and halved yellow onions to the pot with the tomatoes.
⏱️ 2 min - 2
Bring the sauce mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low and cook uncovered for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, allowing the sauce to gently bubble and the flavors to meld. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
⏱️ 75 min - 3
Once the sauce has simmered, carefully remove the cooked onion halves from the pot using tongs and discard them (or save for another use).
⏱️ 1 min - 4
If you prefer a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender to briefly blend the sauce to your desired consistency. Alternatively, you can leave it chunky, as is traditional.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
While the sauce is finishing, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 tablespoon of kosher salt to the boiling water, then add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente.
⏱️ 9 min - 6
Before draining the pasta, reserve about 1/4 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water. Then, using tongs, transfer the cooked pasta directly from the pot into the pot with the tomato sauce.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Add 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese to the pasta and sauce. Pour in the reserved 1/4 cup of pasta cooking water. Toss everything together thoroughly until the pasta is well coated and the sauce is emulsified.
⏱️ 3 min - 8
Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with extra grated Parmesan cheese.
⏱️ 1 min