"The Bear" Spaghetti
If watching The Bear has left you with an insatiable craving for basil-infused San Marzano tomato spaghetti, never fear! We’re here with the deets to get you munching in no time. This recipe is completely believable as a secret family recipe, as the flavours are homey, simple and utterly satisfying.
You’ll need only 7 basic ingredients to get started, and with only 45 minutes of active cook and prep time, this is perfect for on-the-go weeknight dinners.
The core ingredients
This dish relies on a handful of simple ingredients, and therein lies the trick! The flavours are bold, pure and pack a solid punch! To make this spaghetti every bit as good as the original dish in The Bear, you will need the following:
San Marzano tomatoes
A significant plot point in the show, San Marzano tomatoes is an heirloom variety of plum tomatoes hailing from the Valle del Sarno in Italy. They are usually available in canned form and form the base of the famous spaghetti sauce.
Basil
A staple ingredient in Italian cookery, basil forms the base of the spaghetti sauce alongside the tomatoes.
Garlic
Is there any savoury Italian dish that isn’t improved by adding garlic? Go on, I’ll wait!
Butter
Browned butter adds nuttiness, umami and depth of flavour to the sauce.
Red pepper flakes
Dried mild or hot chilli pepper flakes add zing and spice to the sauce, as well as bright pops of colour.
Yellow onion
Vital to developing the flavour in the sauce, sliced yellow onion is sauteed in brown butter until fragrant.
Olive oil
A component vital to any good Italian dish, olive oil adds herbaceous and peppery flavour.
So, did you watch The Bear? What did you think of its depiction of chef life? Let us know in the comments below, or hit us up on Instagram!
If you try this recipe, let us know how it goes! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag your photo #theculinarycartel on Instagram so we can see what you come up with. To view our recipe video on Instagram click here. Happy cooking!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use browned butter to make the spaghetti sauce?
Browning butter has a transformative effect – enhancing buttery flavour while adding nuttiness, richness and depth of flavour.
What’s so special about San Marzano tomatoes?
San Marzano tomatoes are a protected D.O.P. ( Denominazione di Origine Protetta or Protected Designation of Origin) product. Every can of San Marzano tomatoes contains flavourful, vibrant red and fleshy tomatoes which are tinned in a smooth passata sauce for additional richness and flavour.
Why would you remove the onion from the spaghetti sauce instead of chopping it up and adding it to the sauce?
Preparing the onion using this technique allows the flavours of tomato to take centre stage, and preserves the smoothness and velvetiness of the sauce.
“The Bear” Spaghetti
- Total Time: 30 Minutes
- Yield: 2-3 Servings
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Ingredients
- 220g spaghetti
- 80ml olive oil
- 1 400g can chopped San Marzano tomatoes or high quality chopped Italian tomatoes
- 1/2 large yellow onion
- 1/2 packet fresh basil leaves or 12g basil leaves
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 3 cloves garlic
- 60g butter
- salt
- Parmesan cheese, to garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Place the olive oil into a small saucepan. Smash and peel the garlic cloves, then add to the oil. Add in the pepper flakes and the basil, then place over medium-low heat. Once the mixture comes to a boil, simmer for 1-2 minutes, or until the basil has wilted. Remove from the heat and leave to infuse.
- While the oil is infusing, make the spaghetti according to the packet instructions and cook until al dente. Reserve 1/2 a cup of pasta water to add to the sauce at the end.
- Slice the onion in half through the root, and peel off the skin. Place the butter and some oil into a large, heavy-bottomed pot and place over medium-low heat. Allow the butter to melt, then place the onion half into the butter cut-side down. Cook for 8 minutes on medium-low heat, or until golden-brown on the cut side and the butter has browned.
- Add the canned tomatoes to the butter and use a wooden spoon to gently break up the tomatoes – if your tomatoes have already been crushed, then you can skip this step. Once the tomato sauce has come to a boil, turn down the heat, season to taste with salt, cover with a tightly-fitting lid, and allow to simmer for 8 minutes over low heat.
- Finally, combine the basil oil with the tomato sauce and stir until combined. Add extra salt to taste, if needed. Add in the pasta water, and allow the sauce to simmer for an additional 5 minutes, uncovered. Remove the onion halves and blend the sauce in the pot using an immersion blender.
- Toss the pasta through the sauce until the sauce coats the pasta evenly. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkling of fresh basil leaves (optional).
Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 20 Minutes
- Category: Mains
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 1025.54kcal
- Sugar: 10.03g
- Sodium: 555.74mg
- Fat: 64.16g
- Saturated Fat: 20.72g
- Unsaturated Fat: 40.56g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 95.66g
- Fiber: 6.28g
- Protein: 17.16g
- Cholesterol: 64.5mg
