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If you're like the rest of the internet, you've binged Hulu's The Bear in short order. The show is about a high-end chef who comes home to take over his brother's sandwich shop, so the food is definitely front and center. This pasta from The Bear is incredible simple in it's ingredients, but deeply complex in it's flavor profile.
This pasta dish plays a major role in the plot of one of the episodes (no spoilers), and it's one that the characters, and now the internet, are raving about. It's actually a version of spaghetti Pomodoro (or fettucine pomodoro), which is a tomato sauce that has super finely diced, or crushed tomatoes in it. It's been around forever, in various forms, and it's an absolute classic.
The pasta from 'The Bear' (spaghetti pomodoro) highlights tomato as the main flavor. Basil, hot pepper flakes, and garlic all play a supporting role, but tomato is the star of the show.
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Other Versions that Inspired Me
Before we go any further - this sauce has actually already been made by some of the cast members of the show! Check out the very awesome YouTube Video here, if you want to see how Matty Matheson would do it. They recreate a bunch of the recipes from The Bear, so it's totally worth checking out.
While I was researching for this recipe (because they don't give you much to go on in the show), I also checked out this Buzzfeed version by Ross Yoder. I tested a couple different versions of this sauce, but I can tell you his tip to make sure you blend the oil, basil, garlic and hot pepper flakes (instead of straining them out) is on point, and totally the way to go.
This version is my own take, but it was for sure inspired by the two recipes above!
Ingredients
The ingredient list is the best part about this dish. It's so so simple.
- Spaghetti
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Basil
- Hot pepper flakes
- Butter
- Onion
- San Marzano tomatoes
- Parmesan & more basil for garnish
How to Make Pasta from The Bear
Let's walk through my version of this pasta step by step.
First, we're going to make the oil.
Add your oil to a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Right away, add the garlic, hot pepper flakes, and fresh basil (you really want to pack it in there, in my opinion).
Let it cook for 45 seconds to 2 minutes - until the basil is just starting to wilt, and you can smell the garlic. Remove from the heat, and let all those flavors mellow out together while you make the body of the sauce.
Heat the oil, garlic, basil and chili flakes over medium low heat. Cook for about 45 seconds - 2 minutes, until the basil is just starting to wilt.
Melt some butter over medium heat in a Dutch oven. When it's melted, add your onion, which should simply be cut in half with the skin removed. Place it skin side down in the butter.
Let it cook like that for 3-4 minutes. Keep an eye on the butter, you don't want it to burn.
Melt your butter in a Dutch oven. Place the onions cut side down in the butter. Cook for 3-4 minutes.
The onion should just be starting to brown - now's the time to add your San Marzano tomatoes. Roughly crush them with a potato masher if you got whole ones.
Add some salt to taste, cover, and turn the heat down to medium low.
Let it cook away for 20 minutes.
In the meantime, throw your cool(ish) oil in a food processor, and chop it up.
At this point, you should start cooking your spaghetti as well, in salted boiling water.
Add the blended oil to the tomatoes. Cook for another 5 minutes. The key is that we don't want the basil to cook all the way through, and lose it's fresh flavor.
Remove the onions. Add your spaghetti (it should be just under al dente, you can finish cooking it in the sauce!)
Cook for another minute, then serve with fresh parmesan cheese and more basil (and maybe a crack of black pepper as well).
Storage & Reheating
Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
Reheat by gently warming in a large saucepan, adding a little water for moisture.
Other Awesome Pastas to Try
Recipe
Pasta from 'The Bear' (Spaghetti Pomodoro)
Equipment
- Food processor
- Dutch Oven
Ingredients
- ½ C olive oil light-tasting
- 6 cloves garlic
- ¾ teaspoon hot pepper flakes you can adjust to your taste
- ½-¾ C basil leaves packed
- ½ C butter
- 1 onion cut in half, peeled
- 3 C San Marzano tomatoes
- 1 lb spaghetti or fettucine
- ½ C parmesan cheese for serving
- extra basil leaves for serving
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add oil, garlic, hot pepper flakes, and basil to a small saucepan. Heat over medium low. Once the ingredients start to sizzle, cook for 45 seconds - 2 minutes, until the basil is starting to wilt. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- Melt the butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, cut side down. Cook for 4-5 minutes, until it's just starting to brown. Add the San Marzano tomatoes, and mash with a potato masher until they are broken up into chunks.
- Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium low, and simmer for 20-25 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make your spaghetti according to package directions, minus 2 minutes. You want to get the pasta out just before it's al dente so it can finish cooking in the tomatoes.
- Pour your cool(ish) oil in a food processor, and chop.
- Add the oil to the tomatoes, and simmer for another five minutes.
- Remove the onion. Taste for salt and pepper, and adjust accordingly. Add the spagetti, cook for another two minutes until al dente. Remove to a serving platter, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves, and a drizzle of good olive oil.
- Enjoy!
Angie says
Simple and delicious. It did need salt and pepper and I added a little sugar since my family prefers sauce on the sweet side. Since there are few ingredients, quality is key here.
Cara says
Hi Angie! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. And great tip with the sugar! Thank you so much for stopping by 🙂
Krista says
Just tried this today and it was fantastic! So savoury and built such good layers of flavour in such a short time! Will absolutely be making again
Cara says
Awesome krista, I'm so glad you liked it!
Sharon says
Simple and delicious
Dan says
This is a very simple, easy, and delicious pasta. It has just the right amount heat. My family loved it, I will definitely be making it again.
Cara says
Thanks so much Dan! 🙂
Marion Henderson says
Sounds delicious. Bet you are having some good food with Cara around
Jim says
Fantastic recipe ! Loved this!
Cara says
Thank you Jim, I'm so glad 🙂
Naked Bro 69 says
Good recipe overall! It does add some savory depth that typical san marzano recipes seem to miss, which could be attributed to the oil. For people looking to make this, here's a few things to consider:
1. It's a lot of butter. I'd probably try 1/4 C next time.
2. The oil measurements are solid, but I'd slowly mix the oil in to taste. Along with all the butter above, it felt a little greasy.
3. I'd probably just chop up the onion and throw it in to avoid waste.
4. I added sugar to taste. If you're not using san marzano, this might be a good move.
Cara says
Hey Dustin - thank you so much! I love these tips as well - great ideas for people who might want to customize it to their taste. Thanks again!
Fiorella Applebe says
This is ridiculously delicious. I’ve yet to watch the show, but Mindy kahlings IG post led me here. I’ve made this once and am making it again tonight. Thanks.
Cara says
Thank you so much Fiorella - your comment totally made my day! This is my favorite pasta (EVER), I made it twice this week already! So glad you're enjoying it!
Imsen says
As a lover of pasta! I must say that this is one of the prettiest dishes of pasta i've seen on internet! Love the recipe too!
Cara says
Thank you so much Imsen, I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Her says
I rarely make a recipe exactly as it is written. I was apprehensive about the amount of butter and EVOO. But I made this exactly as written and it is amazing.
Cara says
Oh my gosh, you comment totally made my day! I'm so glad you enjoyed it, thank you do much for telling me! ☺️
kushigalu says
I love how flavorful and delicious this pasta recipe is. Thanks for sharing
Cara says
Thank you so much!
Jill says
Fat equals flavor so I was happy to see the butter and olive oil generously added. Love The Bear too, such a great show. Thanks for this awesomely simple recipe!
Cara says
Thanks so much Jill, and I totally agree!