At Passanante’s Home Food Service we’re always looking for fabulous recipes to share with our customers. This week’s recipe comes to you fresh all the way from Italy!

While celebrating 30 years of marriage at a beautiful villa in Italy, our close family friends were treated to the incredible authentic home-cookings of the villa’s chef, Andreanna. One of the recipes our friends haven’t stopped raving about is the “Authentic Italian Marinara Sauce.” This is recipe is fabulous over pasta, spaghetti squash, as a dip for fried or baked mozzarella — anytime you need “red sauce” we encourage you to try this out!

Have a friend in mind that might like to try our home food delivery service? Check out our custom Facebook app to submit a request for a FREE food sample!

• 1/2  cup Olive Oil
• 6 cloves of garlic, peeled and pressed in garlic press
• 1 lg. (28 oz) can “Cento” brand Crushed Tomatoes (found in Italian section of the grocery)
• 1 lg. (28 oz) can “Cento” Marzano Style whole tomatoes, remove center pulp by pinching where stem connected and gently pulling out, then gently shred tomato into pieces and drop into sauce. Toss center stringy pulp out; add remaining liquid from can to sauce.
• 1  14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained well
• 4 Knorr’s Chicken Bouillon cubes
• 1/4 cup water
• Lots of fresh Basil (maybe 20-25 good sized leaves, cut up with scissors into about 1/2″ pieces)*

This recipe is so easy; once you make it you will always make it:

1. Gently heat olive oil
2. Add garlic, stir til garlic appears softened
3. Add crushed tomatoes, about 1/4 cup water, basil and chicken bouillon.
4. Give one good stir; cover and continue to simmer 20 minutes.

Serve “Authentic Italian Marinara Sauce” over fresh pasta (or spaghetti squash) with tomato/mozzarella/basil salad (Ensalada Caprice) and garlic bread if you like.

• Slice organic sweet cherry tomatoes in half
• Add some fresh basil, and count to three while pouring olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the top.
• Put the about the same amount of cubed buffalo mozzarella as cherry tomatoes on top, cover and chill till ready to serve.
• Only toss lightly just before serving (the mozzarella will turn brown from the balsamic if you toss earlier)

Don’t forget to pair this meal with a great red wine!  A good chianti doesn’t have to be expensive and always tasty with Italian food.

Happy Eating!