The Bear” Spaghetti Recipe
‘The Bear’ Spaghetti is a rich and flavorful Italian pasta dish featuring al dente spaghetti tossed in a fragrant tomato sauce infused with garlic, basil, red pepper flakes, and browned butter. This recipe combines simple ingredients with careful cooking techniques to create a comforting and aromatic meal perfect for any pasta lover.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 220g spaghetti
For the Basil-Garlic Oil
- 80ml olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 packet fresh basil leaves or 12g fresh basil leaves
For the Tomato Sauce
- 1 400g can chopped San Marzano tomatoes or high quality chopped Italian tomatoes
- 1/2 large yellow onion
- 60g butter
- Salt, to taste
To Serve
- Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Basil-Garlic Oil: Place the olive oil into a small saucepan. Add the smashed and peeled garlic cloves, red pepper flakes, and basil leaves. Heat over medium-low heat until the mixture comes to a boil, then simmer for 1-2 minutes until the basil has wilted. Remove from heat and allow to infuse.
- Cook the Spaghetti: While the oil is infusing, cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve half a cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Brown the Onion: Slice the onion in half through the root and peel off the skin. In a large heavy-bottomed pot, melt the butter with a little oil over medium-low heat. Place the onion half cut-side down in the pot and cook for 8 minutes until it is golden-brown and the butter has browned.
- Make the Tomato Sauce: Add the canned chopped tomatoes to the pot with the browned onion and butter. Break up the tomatoes gently with a wooden spoon if not already crushed. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, season with salt, cover with a tightly fitting lid, and simmer for 8 minutes.
- Combine and Simmer: Stir the infused basil oil into the tomato sauce until combined. Adjust salt to taste. Add the reserved pasta water, then simmer uncovered for an additional 5 minutes. Remove the onion halves and blend the sauce directly in the pot with an immersion blender until smooth and well incorporated.
- Toss and Serve: Toss the cooked spaghetti through the sauce until evenly coated. Serve immediately topped with grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkling of fresh basil leaves if desired.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to help adjust the sauce consistency and enhance flavor.
- Browning the onion in butter adds depth and richness to the sauce.
- Use high-quality canned San Marzano tomatoes for the best flavor.
- The immersion blender creates a smooth, restaurant-style sauce; alternatively, carefully transfer to a blender.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level.
- Parmesan garnish is optional but adds a nice savory finish.
Keywords: The Bear Spaghetti, Italian pasta recipe, tomato sauce pasta, basil garlic oil, brown butter sauce, easy spaghetti recipe
Find it online: https://victoriablair.com/the-bear-spaghetti-recipe/
