WHOLE SPICE COMPANY® Basil Leaves (4 oz. Bag) – 6060997017759

There are many types of basil, which vary in size, color, and flavor, and all can be used for culinary purposes. Basil goes with almost everything, but it has a special affinity with tomatoes. Freshly torn basil leaves are delicious on a salad of sliced tomatoes, lightly seasoned with salt and freshly ground pepper and drizzled with a fruity extra-virgin olive oil, accompanied by crusty bread. Italians cooks, however, preserve their prolific basil crops by filling a jar with the leaves, lightly salting them, topping up the jar with olive oil, closing it tightly, and storing it in the refrigerator.

Simple Spaghetti Tomato Sauce

Serves 6

Ingredients

1 pound of spaghetti

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 onion, diced

6 cloves of garlic, diced fine

2 cans of simple tomato sauce

2 teaspoons paprika

teaspoon black pepper, ground

teaspoon dry basil

teaspoon dry oregano

1 teaspoon sugar

teaspoon salt

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, about 8-10 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the tomato sauce. In a large pot, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saut until soft and translucent, about 6 minutes. Add spices: paprika, black pepper, basil, oregano, sugar, and salt and saut for 2 minutes. Add tomato sauce and stir well. Simmer covered on low heat for 30 minutes or until thick.

Drain the pasta and add to the sauce; toss to coat.