Mum’s Pasta

A Sunday tradition, a bowl of comfort, and a taste of home.

This dish is deeply woven into my childhood. Every Sunday at my grandparents’ house, a big pot of this sauce would be bubbling away on the stove. I loved it then, and I love it now.

Most Italian families have their own version of a tomato sauce, but this one is ours and it carries the spirit of my mum, Gina. She was Scottish-Italian, a formidable matriarch with a fierce heart and an unshakable softness. She had a way of wrapping people up, offering warmth and care to anyone who crossed our threshold, no matter where they came from. Our house was always open, a safe haven for kids who had nowhere else to go. She struck a rare balance - tough yet tender, commanding respect while making space for mischief.

Mum’s pasta was legendary among our friends. It became the kind of dish that brought people together, that lingered in their memories long after they left. Even now, when I make it, those who knew her are instantly transported back. I cook it in big batches for gatherings, talk friends through the recipe over the phone, and share it with those craving a taste of home - like my friend Shahrouz in New York, who still calls for guidance when he needs a dish that feels familiar. After Mum passed, Shahrouz even moved in for a while, filling the silence she left behind with the same kind of warmth she had always offered others.

So when Rav asked me to write a recipe for the first Gina newsletter, there was no question - give them Mum’s pasta. At least they’ll make it. And I hope you do. I hope you make it once, then again, until it becomes part of your own repertoire - something familiar, something comforting.

The secret? Patience. Slowly infusing oil, garlic, and basil over a gentle heat - no rushing, no browning, just time. Then comes the umami bomb: tomato purée and red wine, adding depth and richness.

The sauce will look a little oily at the end, but don’t worry - that’s where the magic of pasta water comes in. It brings everything together, emulsifying into something silky, luxurious, and deeply satisfying.

This is the kind of pasta that makes you feel at home. I hope you love it as much as I do.