I made the recipe from Netflix's new hit film and the secret ingredient is a game changer

Irish Daily Star

19-05-2025

I recently took a culinary journey inspired by one of Netflix's current top films and made a delightful discovery.
Nonnas, which premiered on the streaming giant earlier this month, has quickly become a favorite among viewers. As of now, it holds a solid third place in the platform's top ten chart.
The movie features Vince Vaughn as Joe, a man who, following his mother's passing, stakes everything to honor her and his Nonna by launching an Italian restaurant. The unique twist? He exclusively employs local Italian grandmothers as the establishment's chefs.
The story is actually based on the real-life experiences of Joe Scaravella, who founded Enoteca Maria in 2007 after losing his grandmother in 1999 and yearning for her homemade meals. According to the film's narrative, one such meal is his Nonna's 'Sunday Gravy', a tomato-based sauce that pairs well with any pasta, reports
the Mirror US
.
The recipe features in Netflix film Nonnas
(Image: Netflix)
Despite his best efforts, Joe struggles to unlock the secret to the recipe. Without giving too much away, he eventually uncovers the secret left to him by his mother in a letter he had been avoiding.
Moved by this touching revelation, I felt compelled to try my hand at this recipe. The result? I've discovered my new go-to dish to whip up. Here are the ingredients and instructions as outlined in the film:.
Ingredients:
2 red apples
7 cups water
6 links hot or sweet Italian sausage
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic
1 green bell pepper
2 cans whole tomatoes (14.5-ounce)
1 tablespoon dried or fresh basil, chopped
1 tablespoon dried or fresh oregano, chopped
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup fresh parsley
Method:
Chop the apples into quarters, add to the water in a large pot. Simmer over medium heat for one hour. Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth; discard apples and set liquid aside to cool.
Brown the sausages in a skillet over medium heat. Drain the fat and set the cooked sausages aside.
Add olive oil to a large pot and cook the onion and pepper, stirring often, for about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook about 1 minute.
Add tomatoes and apple cider, cook until smooth. Add basil, oregano, pepper, and parsley.
Slice sausages into chunks and add to the pot. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 6 hours.
Serve over cooked pasta of your choice.
I found my new favourite pasta sauce
(Image: Peter Harris)
If you're still trying to figure it out, it's the apples that are the secret ingredient Joe was searching for. Simmering them in water lends a subtle sweetness to the sauce (or gravy) without tipping it into dessert territory. It makes all the difference.
I didn't have the luxury of living near the market stalls featured in the film, so I had to tweak the recipe and method a bit myself. Hailing from the North West of England, Italian sausages were a no-show at my local grocer. A quick online search suggested Cumberland sausages as a close English counterpart.
They lent a pleasant peppery punch to the dish while remaining succulent in the sauce. Next time, though, I'd probably dice them up a bit more. I also initially misread the recipe and only used fresh tomatoes. This likely kept the sauce from achieving the rich red hue seen in the film.
So, next round, I'll be sure to toss in canned tomatoes or even passata. I paired the sauce with fresh tagliatelle, but honestly, it would've been a match made in heaven with any pasta variety.
I'm already looking forward to cooking the dish again
(Image: Peter Harris)
The recipe calls for simmering the whole thing for four to six hours, but who has the patience to hover over the stove all weekend? Especially when there are football scores to track. So, I tossed everything into the slow cooker and cranked it up high for four hours. The result? Perfection.
In a bid to shave off some cooking time, I'm curious if substituting simmered apples with bottled apple cider or juice would still yield a delectable sauce. Perhaps browning the sausages and tossing everything into the slow cooker right from the get-go could be an option.
And for our vegetarian and vegan friends, don't fret – you can simply skip the meat and still end up with a sauce that's just as scrumptious.
Nonnas is streaming on Netflix.