This economical pasta sauce is being hailed as the “best in the world”, with just three pantry staples needed to create it. It’s hard to beat the comfort of a steaming bowl of pasta smothered in a tantalising sauce, but with modern life’s relentless tempo, many are reaching for the convenience of pre-made jarred sauces.
Yet, its not necessary. The late Italian-American culinary writer Marcella Hazan shared a recipe that many deem among the finest for pasta sauce, achievable with minimal cost and effort, using only three ingredients.
The seminal recipe, which appeared in Marcella’s renowned book ‘Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking’, has been celebrated as “the best in the world” by the food experts at Delish. The simple recipe requires just tinned tomatoes, an onion and a generous knob butter, reports the Express.
Though selecting fresh tomatoes can add a special touch, those who’ve attempted this can attest to the labor involved; adhering to Marcella’s original approach is advised for those looking for a low-effort meal.
Sticking ‘true’ to Marcella’s detailed guidance, begin by placing half a peeled onion into a saucepan with butter and tinned tomatoes and allow this mixture to simmer for around 45 minutes.
In her book, Marcella shared the secret to Italian cooking success: “No other preparation is more successful in delivering the prodigious satisfactions of Italian cooking than a competently executed sauce with tomatoes.”
Reflecting on his late wife’s culinary philosophy during a 2016 interview with Epicurious, Marcella’s husband Victor said: “Marcella was a genius when it came to taste. She had an immediate understanding about how flavour affects a dish.”
He recalled Marcella’s straightforward approach to cooking: “She asked herself, ‘Why chop an onion? Why saute? I’m going to put the onion, tomato, and butter together and forget about it’.”