Vintage-Style Martin Guitar Tomato Pasta
A 1920s-inspired pasta dish featuring a simple, deeply flavored tomato sauce that captures the essence of authenticity through slow-cooked simplicity. This italian-inspired pasta ready in about 50 minutes pairs spaghetti, extra virgin olive oil, medium, finely diced red onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium, finely diced red onion
- 4 cloves, minced garlic
- 28 oz, crushed canned San Marzano tomatoes
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 cup, chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a rolling boil. Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 medium finely diced red onion and sauté for 5 minutes until translucent and golden at the edges.
- Step 3: Stir in 4 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned, then add 28 oz crushed San Marzano tomatoes, 1 tsp dried oregano, and 1 tsp sea salt.
- Step 4: Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, adding reserved pasta water as needed to adjust consistency.
- Step 5: Toss the drained spaghetti with the sauce until evenly coated, adding more pasta water if too dry. Garnish with 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil before serving.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Vintage-Style Martin Guitar Tomato Pasta take to make?
Total time is about 50 minutes (15 min prep + 35 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Vintage-Style Martin Guitar Tomato Pasta?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep spaghetti from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Vintage-Style Martin Guitar Tomato Pasta?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Vintage-Style Martin Guitar Tomato Pasta for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Vintage-Style Martin Guitar Tomato Pasta?
Italian pasta like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Kids gobbled it up without complaints — that's a 5-star in my book.
- ★★★★★
Used frozen vegetables instead of fresh and honestly couldn't tell the difference.
- ★★★★★
Simple and delicious.
