Nonnas Pasta Sauce Recipes

NONNA'S SWEET PASTA SAUCE FOR TWO

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a small pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in water, tomato paste, sugar, bacon, salt, basil, and red pepper flakes. Simmer until flavors combine, about 30 minutes.

NONNA'S PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 350°F.
• Put meat on a baking tray and bake, until juices run clear, about 20 minutes Process the carrot and onion together in a food processor, till smooth.
• Fry garlic in oil in a large saucepan, add the carrot and onion and bay leaf, fry for 5 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and wine, bring to a boil.
• Lower heat to simmer and add the cooked meat, leaving whole.
• Add spices.
• Let simmer 2hrs on low.
• Serve over pasta.
• Top with freshly grated Parm cheese. When the sauce is ready to serve take the meat out and put on a serving dish and pass with the sauce.......the meat will be melt in your mouth good!!

DELLA NONNA SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add peas and cook until bright green and tender, about 7 to 8 minutes. Remove the peas with a slotted spoon or strainer and set aside. Use the same water to cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta water.
• 2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet heat butter over medium heat. Add the prosciutto or pancetta and cook until golden and crispy, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the shallot and thyme and cook until slightly softened, but not brown, about 1 minute. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the wine. Let the wine evaporate slightly and then add the heavy cream. Cook until the sauce reduces and thickens slightly, stirring occasionally, about 6 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Just before serving, stir the cheese, parsley, and peas into the sauce until it thickens a little more.
• 3. Toss the pasta in the sauce and use the reserved pasta water, if needed, to loosen the sauce slightly. Transfer the pasta to serving bowls and garnish with additional cheese and parsley, if desired.

NONA'S MARINARA SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Peel 5 cloves garlic and place them in a square of foil. Sprinkle the cloves with salt and pepper and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Wrap up the foil and place it directly on the oven rack. (Be sure that the foil packet is secure so no oil will leak out.) Roast the garlic until it's brown and tender, about 25 minutes. Allow to cool enough to touch and squeeze the garlic from the skins. Set aside.
• Saute onions and carrots with the oil in a medium saucepan. Add tomato paste and stir well. This will cook off the tomato paste and give a nice orangy color. Cook for about 10 minutes. When vegetables are softened add the roasted garlic, salt, pepper, basil, oregano and stir together until incorporated. Pour in the tomatoes. Fill the empty can with water and add it to the pan. Bring to a boil then lower the heat to a simmer. Simmer for 1 hour, uncovered. Stir occasionally. Once sauce is ready carefully pour it into the food processor and puree until smooth.

NONNA TERESA'S PASTA

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a pan of boiling salted water according to the packet instructions, then drain, reserving a mugful of starchy cooking water.
• Meanwhile, for the pangrattato, put 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a large frying pan on a medium-high heat with the breadcrumbs and chilli flakes. Peel and finely grate in the horseradish, then fry for 5 minutes, or until crisp, stirring regularly. Tip into a bowl and put aside. Return the frying pan to a medium heat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Peel, finely slice and add the garlic, strip in the thyme leaves, then tear in the dried peppers, discarding the seeds. Fry for just 1 minute, then toss in the drained pasta, loosening with a little reserved cooking water, if needed. Season to perfection, divide between warm bowls, drizzle lightly with extra-virgin olive oil and generously sprinkle over the pangrattato.