Few films have had as lasting an impact on popular culture as “The Godfather.”
And its influence extends beyond the silver screen, from the sofa to the kitchen.
One of the most iconic culinary elements in the film is the tomato sauce recipe, a closely guarded secret in the Corleone family.
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Here, we explore the mystique of “The Godfather” tomato sauce and how to recreate this legendary concoction.
The sauce became synonymous with the movie and was often referred to as “Clemenza’s Spaghetti Sauce.” Pictured is Marlon Brando from “The Godfather.” (via CBS, Getty Images)
Although Clemenza never actually provides the exact dimensions of the Sunday sauce, the ingredients and dimensions can be interpreted to suit the film.
Before Clemenza instructs Michael on the recipe, he is seen in the film adding one 28-ounce can of tomato sauce and one 28-ounce can of diced tomatoes to the pot.
Then he said to Corleone’s son, “Look, I’m going to start with a little oil. Then I’m going to fry the garlic. Then I’m going to add the tomatoes, the tomato paste, and I’m going to fry them. Be careful not to burn them.”
Based on this and popular scenes from the movie, we’ll show you the perfect ingredients to recreate Clemenza’s gravy recipe for 20 people.
Ingredients for “The Godfather” Sauce Recipe
- 2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2-4 cloves of garlic (chopped)
- 1 28 oz can of diced tomatoes
- 1 28 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 6 oz can tomato paste
- 1 pound cooked Italian sausage
- 1 pound cooked homemade meatballs
- 1/4 cup sugar
- A splash of red wine
How to make the “Godfather” sauce recipe
Place the pot in a large pot and heat over medium-low heat. Once hot, add the chopped garlic.
Fry the garlic until golden brown, but be careful not to burn it.
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The garlic will fry for about 30 seconds, so keep an eye on the color of the onions.
Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste to the pot. Stir to mix the garlic and oil so it doesn’t stick to the pan, Clemenza says.
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Bring the sauce to a boil and add whole or cut Italian sausage and already cooked homemade meatballs.
Add a red wine, preferably a dry wine like Cabernet or Pinot Noir. To finish the sauce, add 1/4 cup sugar and stir.
When it comes to cooking time, Sunday sauce takes several hours to cook, ideally up to 8 hours total. In the movie, Clemenza puts everything together and serves the meal very quickly. However, it is recommended to let the sauce cook for several hours before adding the cooked meat. If you add the meat too soon, it may overcook and become dry.
In The Godfather, the Corleone family’s tomato sauce is more than just a culinary creation. It is a symbol of tradition, family and heritage preservation.
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