Simply the Best... Simple Pasta

If you love a simple yet amazing pasta recipe this is your new go to! Recently I visited Scarpetta in New York and their award winning pasta is their most basic item on the menu. When you try it you can see why it is award winning. I have tried a lot of sauces and this is at the top of my list. This is how I recreated the sauce:

For a Family of 5:

2 large cans of San Marzano or Plum tomatoes

1/2 C olive oil

Handful of fresh basil and save a little for garnish

6 cloves of garlic

1t salt

1t red pepper flakes

3 T butter

Fresh Parmesan Cheese

Pasta Water

Fresh Pasta or high quality dried pasta

Put 1T top quality olive oil in a pot and add tomatoes. Mash them with a potato masher and cook for 45 minutes. Add salt and 1t red pepper flakes. In a different small pot infuse 1/2 C olive oil, basil, and red pepper. Let simmer on low for 20 minutes. Before serving strain oil and pour into tomato sauce. Boil pasta according to package directions. Put 1/4C pasta water in sauce pan with noodles, add tomato sauce, and butter and let simmer while stirring for 3 minutes. Serve and garnish with basil and parmesan cheese.