Spaghetti with Marinara
Spaghetti with Marinara is a classic Italian pasta dish featuring long, thin spaghetti noodles tossed in a simple, vibrant tomato-based sauce. The marinara sauce is typically made from tomatoes, garlic, onions, and herbs like basil and oregano, often with a touch of olive oil. It's a staple of Neapolitan cuisine, representing the heart of simple, rustic Italian cooking.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is primarily high in carbohydrates from the pasta, with a moderate amount of fat from the olive oil in the sauce. It provides key nutrients like lycopene (an antioxidant from cooked tomatoes), some vitamin C, and small amounts of iron and B vitamins from the enriched pasta. A typical serving contains roughly 400-600 calories, depending on portion size and sauce richness.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 220 kcal |
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbs | 40 g |
| Fat | 3 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 600 mg |
| Potassium | 350 mg |
| Vitamin C | 15 mg |
| Iron | 2.5 mg |
| Calcium | 40 mg |
| Vitamin A | 200 IU |
| Phosphorus | 120 mg |
| Magnesium | 30 mg |
| Folate | 50 mcg |
Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Marinara sauce is named after the Italian word for 'sailor,' as it was a simple, preserved sauce often prepared for sailors' long voyages. Nutritionally, cooking tomatoes significantly increases the bioavailability of lycopene, making this a heart-healthy choice compared to raw tomato dishes.
