Sometime in November I read an article about Ina Garten’s favorite marinara sauce, which, of course, was Rao’s Homemade, which, of course, was just as delicious as everyone says. But here’s the thing: I recently found a pasta sauce that I honestly think is even better— and it’s not Rao’s.
It all started on my daily trip to my neighborhood bodega. I had my eyes on a jar of Rao’s (I was there to restock!) until a store employee told me to put that down and try a jar of the Cucina & Amore Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce instead. At just under $5, it was half the price of Rao’s, and he told me if his Italian grandma isn’t making pasta sauce homemade, “this is what she’s buying.” That was enough to convince me to grab a jar of Cucina & Amore and compare the two. Spoiler alert: It’s my new marinara sauce of choice.
What’s So Great About Cucine & Amore Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce?
When I got home, I wasted no time. I boiled a pot of spaghetti pasta, reserved some of the pasta water, and then tossed it all with the jar of the Cucina & Amore Pasta Sauce. I twirled my fork into my bowl and went in for a bite and … WOW! Before I could even sit and gather my thoughts, I had made my way through a fourth of the pasta — too busy enjoying myself!
After I finished the last bite, I found myself reading the back of the label trying to figure out what makes this sauce so good. I’m a flavor maximalist (who typically douses every marinara sauce I eat with fish sauce and chili pepper flakes), but this pasta sauce is so tasty on its own that I didn’t need to add a single thing to it. Turns out, its recipe originates from the ancient city of Genoa and is still made in Italy to this day with just eight simple, whole ingredients: tomatoes, tomato paste, extra-virgin olive oil, basil, salt, sugar, onions, and garlic. The concentrated flavor is garlic and basil-forward; there are chunks of bright tomatoes laced with notes of garlic and basil. It’s also a few bucks cheaper than Rao’s. So, consider me converted.
And yes, I did go back to the bodega the next day to thank that employee — and grab another jar of sauce, so I can experiment with it as a base for tomato soup, shakshuka, and so much more.
Buy: Cucina & Amore Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce, $4.89 for 16.8 ounces at Instacart
Have you tried Cucina & Amore Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce? Tell us about it in the comments below.
Article by:Source – Ali Domrongchai
