The Godfather: Classic Spaghetti Marinara

The Godfather: Recipe #5

Mrs. Corleone’s homemade tomato sauce is fondly mentioned when Tom Hagen is recalling being taken in by the family when he was abandoned as a child.

“Sonny Corleone, a warmhearted and imperious eleven-year-old, had demanded that he be taken in. Tom Hagen was given a hot dish of spaghetti with oily rich tomato sauce, the taste of which he had never forgotten, and then given a metal folding bed to sleep on.” - Chapter 1

Spaghetti is also mentioned 3 more times throughout the book, but this instance with Tom seemed the most appropriate off of which to base a recipe.

You can also enjoy this sauce as part of a lasagna or mop it up with some fresh crusty Italian bread!

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp + 1/4 cup olive oil (divided)

•  1 large sweet onion, diced

• 6 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning (dried mix of oregano, rosemary, thyme, and basil)

• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (+ more to taste)

• 1 tsp salt (+ more to taste)

• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

• One 28-oz can crushed tomatoes

• One 14-oz can of tomato sauce

• 3/4 cup red wine (I used Cabernet Sauvignon)

• 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped

• 1 package spaghetti, cooked to package instructions
  

Instructions:

1. Heat 2 Tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until fragrant.

2. Add Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper and continue to saute until onions are soft and translucent.

3. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, 1/4 cup olive oil, and wine. Stir until everything is well incorporated and bring to a low boil over medium or medium-low heat. Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes to cook off the bitterness of the alcohol.

4. Add parsley and basil and stir until homogeneous. Simmer for an additional 5 min or so while your spaghetti is cooking.

5. Serve hot over al dente spaghetti with some fresh Italian bread on the side, and garnish with fresh parsley and basil.

6. Enjoy!