The Bear: Try the Spaghetti al Pomodoro Recipe

It seems we still can’t get enough of The Bear. If you have watched it, and re-watched it, why not try this recipe for the classic spaghetti al pomodoro that appears in the show.

Chefs are the star of the hit Hulu show that has been commissioned for a second season, but the food plays a supporting role. Of all the dishes that appear in The Bear, this take on the classic spaghetti al pomodoro is the one that has struck a chord and gone viral.

The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity, and that’s why it’s such an enduring classic of Italian cuisine. Simplicity is the essence of Italian food, with an emphasis on the quality of ingredients above all else. But just because a dish is simple, that doesn’t mean it can’t be complex, nuanced and delicious.

Every Italian will give you a slightly different variant of this recipe for spaghetti al pomodoro, but the one from The Bear uses a whole onion sliced in half, which is placed in butter to form a base for the tomato sauce. The tomatoes are tinned Italian San Marzano tomatoes that are mashed and simmered.

There are no specific indications for the pasta - any high-quality Italian dried spaghetti will do for serving this - but why not make your own spaghetti? It’s very easy to do and will cook in a fraction of the time, saving you energy too.

Fresh basil is also fundamental to this recipe, and these days you can buy basil plants all year round. If you have a plant that’s coming to the end of its life, freeze the leaves. Then you can mince them with olive oil and add a spoonful to pasta sauces.

Another ingredient for this recipe is time. Allow a few hours for the sauce to simmer on a low heat, topping up with water or stock if necessary. It will make all the difference to this sauce, as the tinned tomatoes will lose that slight tinny flavour and become sweet and full-flavoured.

Add a shake of parmesan cheese when serving, and always look for the genuine article as it makes a significant difference.