High Fructose Corn Syrup Free Spaghetti with Marinara Sauce
Marinara is one of those sauces that sounds simple but can go sideways fast when you reach for a jarred version — most store-bought options are quietly loaded with high fructose corn syrup, hiding behind a label that looks perfectly innocent. This from-scratch version keeps things clean and honest, built entirely from whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes, fresh garlic, olive oil, and torn basil. A small pinch of sugar is all it takes to balance the acidity, and you know exactly what's in it because you put it there. The technique is just as satisfying as the ingredient list: garlic and red pepper flakes bloom slowly in olive oil until pale golden and fragrant, then the crushed tomatoes go in and simmer down into something rich, glossy, and deeply savory. Tossing the cooked spaghetti directly in the sauce — with a splash of starchy pasta water — is the move that makes everything cling together beautifully. A drizzle of finishing olive oil and a handful of fresh Parmesan bring it all home. It's weeknight comfort food that happens to be exactly what it says it is, nothing more and nothing less.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the pasta
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
For the sauce
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 can (28 oz) whole peeled san marzano tomatoes
- ½ tsp sugar
- salt and pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, torn
For serving
- 1–2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, for finishing
- parmesan cheese, freshly grated (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the kosher salt, then the spaghetti, and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente — tender with a slight resistance at the center, about 1–2 minutes less than the package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining. Drain the spaghetti through a colander and set aside.
- 2
While the pasta water heats, pour the canned tomatoes into a large bowl and crush them by hand, breaking them into rough, uneven pieces. Set aside.
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