The Godfather's Spaghetti Sauce

It is claimed that in 1973, Glamour Magazine posted this recipe based on a scene in the movie "The Godfather": "Heh, come over here, kid, learn something. You never know, you might have to cook for 20 guys someday. You see, you start out with a little bit of oil. Then you fry some garlic. Then you throw in some tomatoes, tomato paste, you fry it; ya make sure it doesn't stick. You get it to a boil; you shove in all your sausage and your meatballs; heh…? And a little bit o' wine. An' a little bit o' sugar, and that's my trick." --- Clemenza in 'The Godfather' Show more

Ready In: 45 mins

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

  • 2  tablespoons olive oil
  • 3  garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 (28 ounce) cans tomatoes (whole, crushed or chopped)
  • 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
  • 3  Italian sausages, grilled and sliced
  • 1  lb  meatballs, cooked (use your favorite recipe)
  •  red wine, just a splash
  • 14 cup sugar (or to taste)
Advertisement

Directions

  1. Heat the oil over medium heat in a large pot.
  2. Add garlic and cook for a few minutes. Do not let the garlic burn.
  3. Add tomatoes and tomato paste. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring continuously so that a relatively smooth consistence is reached.
  4. Add sausages and meatballs and stir until the meat is coated.
  5. Add a splash of red wine, then the sugar according to taste.
  6. Reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer for a minimum of 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
  7. Serve by ladling over cooked pasta.
  8. Tip: It's not in the movie, but a teaspoon each of basil and oregano is suggested.
  9. Tip 2: If you're using canned whole tomatoes, draining them and then crushing them by hand will result in a chunky sauce. Canned crushed tomatoes will create a slightly thinner sauce, while canned chopped tomatoes will result in a thicker sauce.
Show more

Did you Make This?

Tell us how it came out or how you tweaked it, add your photos, or get help.

Show Off

Dinner Daily Newsletter

Ever know exactly what to make after a hard day’s work? Us either. Take the guesswork out of dinner with these sure-fire meals, delivered right to your inbox.

Advertisement