Book

Strega Nona
​by Tommie dePaola

Big Anthony uses Strega Nona’s magic to boil more and more pasta – too much for him to eat! Help Anthony and eat some of the pasta he’s made with Anthony’s Spaghetti.

Cook

Anthony's Spaghetti

​Complexity: Some chopping, but overall a simple recipe on the stove.
Time: 15 minutes prep plus 60 minutes cooking.

Ingredients

Pasta Sauce
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped (1-1/2 cups)
  • 3 medium cloves garlic, crushed
  • 2 tsp. chopped fresh oregano or 1 tsp. dry oregano
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 Tbs. tomato paste
  • 2 26- to 28-oz. containers diced tomatoes, preferably Pomì brand
  • Kosher salt
  • Parmesan cheese for topping
Pasta
  • Kosher salt
  • 1-1/2 lb. dried spaghetti

Directions

Make the sauce:
  1. Heat the olive oil in a heavy-duty 4-quart saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Add the onion, garlic, oregano, and bay leaf. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is soft, 6 to 10 minutes.
  3. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until darkened, 3 to 4 minutes.
  4. Add the tomatoes and their juice and 1 tsp. salt.
  5. Bring to a boil and then simmer over low heat, stirring frequently, until the sauce has reduced by about a third, 40 to 60 minutes.
  6. Remove the bay leaf and season to taste with salt. Keep warm, covered. The sauce can also be refrigerated for up to 5 days, or frozen for 1 month.
Cook the pasta:
  1. Bring a large covered pot water to a boil.
  2. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes less than package timing for al dente. Reserve 2 cups of the pasta water and drain.
  3. Return the pasta to the pot and mix with the remaining sauce. Add 1 cup pasta water to thin the sauce and cook over medium heat until the pasta is al dente, 2 to 3 minutes. Add more pasta water if necessary, and season to taste with salt.
  4. Transfer the spaghetti to a large heated serving bowl. Top with the sauce and serve.

Recommended for you

Picture
In the Night Kitchen
by Maurice Sendak
Homemade raspberry jam, pound cake
 Picture
Strawberry rhubarb pie
Harold and the Purple Crayon
by Crockett Johnson
 Picture
Jazz chicken sausage gumbo
Mama Don't Allow
by Thacher Hurd