Pasta Pomodoro Sauce

A simple pasta topped with fresh tomato pomodoro sauce couldn’t be more authentically Italian, and like most things Italian, simplicity is key in this 5-ingredient recipe that’s ready in just 20 minutes.

This recipe is brought to you by DeLallo

Pinch me for sure, because I am lucky indeed. I recently visited the homeland of authentic Italian pomodoro sauce, on the Amalfi Coast near Naples, Italy—the hub of authentic Italian pasta manufacturing and tomato farming. It was the trip of a lifetime, complete with amazing views of the dramatic coastal cliffs, white-knuckled winding roads I luckily didn’t have to chauffeur, so much amazing time with friends on the tour, and more real-deal authentic Italian food than I could dream of—so fresh and delicious I never wanted to leave.

But why would I expect anything less? I was there with DeLallo Foods, a brand I’ve worked with for many years and shared many recipes using their products here on the blog, and who imports only the best ingredients direct from Italy to the U.S. We were in Italy to visit their pasta factory and learn more about what makes pasta made in the small southern city of Gragnano in the Campania region of Italy, the best, certifiably authentic pasta in the world—and the only way DeLallo produces their delicious Italian pasta.

In addition to learning about how pasta is made, we took a cooking class and learned how to make this classic Pomodoro al Spaghetti from the chefs of the two-star Michelin awarded restaurant Don Alfonso, where among all of their highly regarded recipes, this is their most popular recipe. It may have been the simplest meal we had on the trip, and might be the reason it ended up being my favorite.

I couldn’t wait to get home and master this classic pomodoro sauce myself, and now, you’re about to as well.

What Is Pomodoro Sauce?

Because this classic Southern Italian dish of pomodoro sauce and pasta is so incredibly simple, using only the best quality ingredients is key to its amazing taste. For Italians, pasta is served at nearly every lunch meal and pomodoro sauce with pasta is a favorite. (Sidenote: I didn’t see one overweight Italian who joyfully eat pasta every single day. They are still incredibly fit regardless of the low-carb craze here in the States!)

Pomodoro sauce is simple and light and this recipe produces just enough to coat the cooked noodles, not drown them in it. The sauce is served simply over long pasta like DeLallo’s spaghetti or short pasta like penne. It can also be used as the base to many Italian dishes: layered lasagnas and eggplant or chicken parmigiana, my super easy gnocchi with pomodoro recipe, or as a topping for chicken breasts with a bit of melted mozzarella, this versatile sauce goes with pretty much everything.

What is Pomodoro Sauce Made Of?

It’s really very, very simple and is just 5 ingredients.

• Fresh tomatoes—in Italy they’re called Pomodorino Vesuviano, or grape or cherry tomatoes. Here in the U.S. look for medium size tomatoes a little bigger than the size of a golf ball. You can usually find them labeled as cocktail campari tomatoes.
• Garlic cloves—there’s no need to remove the papery skin from the whole cloves in this recipe
• Extra virgin olive oil—DeLallo’s olive oil is imported from Italy and reigns supreme
• Basil—fresh basil leaves are a must, tear them with your fingers so they don’t oxidize as they would when cutting with a knife
• Kosher salt—just two generous pinches bring out the sweetness in this sauce

Made In Italy—DeLallo Pasta

After visiting both the mill where DeLallo’s wheat is ground (and grain has been milled since the 1200’s) and the Gragnano factory where the wheat is turned into pasta, I had a whole new appreciation for the humble Italian noodle.

Here are just a few reasons DeLallo pasta is head and shoulders above other brands you may find in the grocery store:

• DeLallo pasta is is made following the strict guidelines of Pasta di Gragnano PGI and is produced in a legally defined territory defined by the king of Napoli two centuries ago. Only pasta in this area can note this distinction, which protects the quality of the product.
• DeLallo pasta is made from locally milled, higher protein durum wheat semolina flour mixed with water from the local aquifer in the Lattari Mountains. The pure water contains less calcium so it makes a more supple pasta, and the proximity to the sea produces perfect pasta-making humidity.
• DeLallo pasta adheres to the centuries old custom of long drying times where pasta was dried in the streets of Gragnano under the sun. Now done conventionally to simulate the old drying tradition, DeLallo pasta has a natural drying time of 18 hours compared to some other commercial brands who bake their pasta for just four hours, and use cheaper, lower protein flour.
• Bronze dies are another signature of authentic pasta. With over 200 different shapes of pasta that can be produced, DeLallo uses traditional bronze dies that are more expensive than the Teflon and plastic dies used by large manufacturers to mass produce pasta faster, but definitely not better.
• The result is DeLallo’s pasta is golden in color with a slightly rough texture creating the best flavor, texture, and taste. These cooked noodles hold and absorb pasta sauce where mass manufactured types of pasta are slick and yellow with less nutritional value, and create a slippery noodle that sauce can’t cling to no matter how hard it tries.

In fact, get this: Some authorities like Dr. Mark Hyman say the simple cause of gluten intolerances can be attributed to pasta’s shorter drying times that is then quick dried by baking at much higher temperatures (115°F vs. 75°F), modifying the product and its nutritional content.

Pomodoro Sauce vs. Marinara: What’s the Difference?

Hailing from the Southern region of Italy, pomodoro and marinara sauce are very similar. They’re both best when made with fresh tomatoes (Naples is famous for it’s tomatoes) producing a fresh tomato flavor that takes just 20 minutes to make.

Authentic pomodoro sauce from Naples is always made with fresh tomatoes, but if you do need to use canned, look for authentic DOP imported tomatoes.

How to Make Pomodoro Sauce

The method for making this pomodoro sauce couldn’t be easier and once you master it, you’ll find yourself making it all of the time for quick eats at lunch or dinner too.

A few pasta pomodoro recipe cooking tips I learned from our cooking class:

This recipe takes three large pans and is cooked in three steps.

Step 1: You will need one large pot to cook the pasta. Cook the pasta just half way, for just 5 minutes at a rolling boil in generously salted water. Start cooking the pasta before you start the sauce, which comes together quick. *BIG NOTE: Reserve at least 1 to 1 ½ cups of the pasta water to add to step 3 where you will continue cooking the pasta in the garlic flavored oil.

Step 2: You will need one large skillet to cook the pomodoro sauce. Start by flavoring the hot oil with the whole garlic cloves over medium high heat then add the quartered tomatoes to the oil with the cloves. There’s no need to mince or chop garlic in this recipe. Instead, use whole cloves with the paper on to flavor the oil as it heats. The paper helps protect the cloves from burning and becoming bitter and is removed from the sauce as it cooks.

Be careful of the sizzle. Cooking the tomatoes at this high temperature means the tomatoes won’t release as much liquid but become more creamy instead. Fish out the garlic cloves with cooking tongs like these I purchased after the cooking class. Gotta be pro like the pros! Use a wooden spatula to break down the tomatoes as they cook.

Tear basil leaves rather than cutting them so they don’t oxidize, and add to the sauce to continue cooking while you finish with step 3.

Step 3: You will need one large skillet to toss the pasta with lightly garlicked goodness before adding to the sauce, which is the master secret to making this pomodoro pasta the most popular dish at 2-star Michelin rated Don Alfonso. Repeat the same process as in step 1 and cook whole cloves in the extra virgin olive oil for flavor.

CAREFULLY add small ladles of the pasta water (about ¼ cup at a time) to the garlic infused oil so the oil and water don’t splatter and burn you. Fish out the pieces of garlic with tongs and add the pasta to continue cooking in the garlic infused water for another 2-3 minutes or until al dente, stirring as it cooks.

VIDEO: How to Make Authentic Pomodoro Sauce

The video below is from our cooking class at Don Alfonso, complete with directions in Italian and some of my meager attempts at translation :).

How to Serve Pasta Pomodoro

You can get fancy with this recipe and plate individual portions, or keep it easy and serve it family style straight from the pan.

To serve individually, twirl the noodles with tongs in a large ladle to create a nest. Place the noodles in a bowl and ladle with a ¼ to ⅓ cup sauce and garnish with fresh basil leaves.

To serve family style, toss the sauce with the noodles, add more basil leaves, and have at it!

And if you’re going to be authentic, resist the urge to add Parmesan cheese! It’s not the Southern Italian way :) . But I mean, you do you.

Recipe Ideas to Serve with Pasta Pomodoro

• Arugula Salad With Shaved Parmesan Three Ways
• Italian Chopped Salad With Marinated Chickpeas
• How To Make An Awesome Antipasto Salad Platter
• Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
• Garlic Butter Pepperoni Pizza Rolls

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below or take a photo and tag me on Instagram or Twitter with #foodiecrusheats. 

More Italian Dinner Recipe Ideas with DeLallo

• Gnocchi With Pomodoro Sauce
• Pasta With Turkey Sausage And Peas
• Linguine And Zucchini Noodles With Shrimp
• Baked Sausage And Cheese Rigatoni
• 30-Minute Caprese Chicken Recipe
• Truffled Mushroom Pizza
• Vegetable Lasagna With Butternut Squash And Shiitake Mushrooms
• Vegetarian Crockpot Lasagna Soup
• How to Pick the Right Pasta for Your Sauce

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This post is sponsored by DeLallo Foods. As always, thank you for reading and supporting companies I partner with, which allows me to create more unique content and recipes for you. There may be affiliate links in this post of which I receive a small commission. All opinions are always my own.