Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes spaghetti sauce taste better? ›

Maybe it needs a touch of salt, red pepper flakes, or some fresh garlic to liven it up. You could add dried or fresh herbs too: oregano, basil, thyme, tarragon, parsley—they're all great! Want to go next level? Toss in some chopped anchovies (or anchovy salt), olives, or some lemon zest and/or juice.

The one area where homemade tomato sauce really shines, however, is in the flavor department. Even when using canned tomatoes instead of garden-fresh ones, a homemade tomato sauce made with onions I sautéed myself and spices from my cupboard always tastes richer and more balanced to me than what comes from a jar.

One of the key differences is that pasta sauce is more robust and complex, with a longer ingredient list and rich flavor. Marinara does not typically contain meat (while spaghetti sauce does), giving it a thinner texture. Marinara is traditionally used as a dipping sauce, while pasta sauce is not.

IF YOU COOK spaghetti in a big pot of water, drain it, then toss it with sauce, you are pouring a lot of flavor down the drain, says Vendemmia chef Brian Clevenger. “The trick to good pasta is cooking it in the sauce,” he says.

Spice it up

If you're using a plain tomato (marinara) sauce, stir in seasonings to add extra flavor. Red pepper flakes, dehydrated or fresh garlic, dried oregano, parsley, or basil, or an Italian seasoning blend are all good options.

One of the most popular types of sauce for pasta is marinara pasta sauce. However, this tomato-based sauce has its origins in Italian-American communities in the USA, rather than in Italy itself.

Adding other vegetables can really enrich the flavor of the sauce as well as adding the health benefits of additional vegetables. One vegetable that pairs really well in tomato sauce is celery. And you don't need a lot of it to add a lot of flavor.

The more time you allow your sauce to simmer, the richer the flavor will be. You can also transfer the sauce to a crockpot after preparing it on the stove and allow it to cook over low heat for a few hours. If your sauce is too thick after cooking, add a little more water to thin it out.

Is spaghetti sauce better the longer you cook it? ›

Yes, with any kind of 'stewing' sauce, the flavour improves the longer you cook it (provided it's a slow, gentle process). The longer you leave it, the more chance the flavours have to 'marry'.

For the best flavor, let the sauce sit overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

Prego (Italian for "You're welcome!") is a trade mark brand name pasta sauce of Campbell Soup Company. It was introduced internationally in 1981.

Widely used in Italian-American cuisine, it is known as alla marinara in Italy, where it is typically made with tomatoes, basil, and oregano, but also sometimes olives, capers, and salted anchovies. It is used for spaghetti and vermicelli, but also with meat or fish.

They're not the same. In Italian, “Ragù” is a hearty meat sauce made of ground meat, vegetables, wine and some tomatoes.

Adding extra sugar to any dish may seem like an American thing, but according to Michael Chiarello, chef and owner of Bottega Restaurant, it's customary practice in southern Italian cuisine.

Why add butter? Its richness cuts through the acidity of the tomatoes resulting in a sauce so creamy and velvety, you might've assumed there was heavy cream if you didn't know better.

Add water and simmer for 30 minutes or longer, to get more depth of flavor. The longer you simmer it, the more the flavors will blend together beautifully.

Add water and simmer for 30 minutes or longer, to get more depth of flavor. The longer you simmer it, the more the flavors will blend together beautifully. I use this sauce all the time in my Spaghetti Pie, Million Dollar Spaghetti, Slow Cooker Lasagna and Instant Pot Spaghetti.

The cinnamon serves another purpose as well. Cinnamon is a sweet spice. Like nutmeg, it makes food seem sweet even when there is little sugar in the dish. The combination of cinnamon and just one teaspoon of sugar tempers the normal acidity of the tomatoes in the sauce.

What makes spaghetti sauce taste sweet? ›

To be clear, there will always be sugar in spaghetti sauce because tomatoes are full of natural sugars. However, when brands add in a surplus of sugar, the final product is usually much too sweet. Here are a few brands that tend to be overly sweet and chock full of added sugars: Ragu.

Marinara is vibrant red and fairly chunky tomato sauce that is essential for an Italian food repertoire. It's quick to prepare and has a bright, fresh flavour that lends itself to many different pasta varieties, from gnocchi to baked ziti.

In Italy, there are sugo and salsa. Sugo derives from succo (juices) and refers to pan drippings that come from cooking meat or from a rich meat-based sauce, such as, sugo alla Bolognese and thick vegetable sauces (which often go over pasta). Salsa is a semi-liquid raw or cooked sauce that is used as a condiment.

Though you could use any tomato, Roma and other paste tomatoes—with meaty texture with little to no seeds—are said to develop the best flavor when cooked down into a delicious sauce.

Bring to a boil, covered, stirring occasionally, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring more frequently toward end of cooking, until sauce is thickened and reduced by half, 2 to 3 hours.

Throw in some carrots. Not only will the add sweetness to your sauce, they also give it a more rich, complex flavor. I have also found that when I have added carrots it has given the sauce and better texture and seems to help it thicken up faster.

When to Cover a Pot. Always cover your pot if you're trying to keep the heat in. That means that if you're trying to bring something to a simmer or a boil—a pot of water for cooking pasta or blanching vegetables, a batch of soup, or a sauce—put that lid on to save time and energy.

Tomato paste is great to have on hand when making a tomato-based pasta sauce, since it can intensify the umami tomato flavors already present. It's a key ingredient in this simple marinara sauce, which you can make entirely from canned tomatoes.

What is a good thickener for spaghetti sauce? ›

Use all-purpose flour in a roux, and save cornstarch, rice flour, tapioca starch, or arrowroot starch for a 1:1 slurry. 7. Add more tomato paste or tomato sauce: To thicken a sauce made with fresh tomatoes, use a tablespoon or two of canned tomato paste or one fourteen-ounce can of tomato sauce.

Cook for about 5 hours, stirring every 15-20 minutes to prevent the sauce from sticking. Check your seasoning and adjust salt for flavor.

A small amount of fat—extra-virgin olive oil or butter—is essential to good pasta sauce texture. Without fat, you have at best watery sauce (nobody has ever said, "Waiter, my pasta is not quite wet enough"), and at worst sauce that over-thickens with starch alone and takes on a pasty texture.

Be careful not to overcook. Since some tomato sauces are ruined by overcooking, always reheat to hot, but take care not to continue cooking the sauce. If you are using fresh tomatoes in your recipe, taste before buying. The words "vine-ripened" are no assurance of good taste.

If your tomato sauce is too acidic and verging on bitter, turn to baking soda, not sugar. Yes, sugar might make the sauce taste better, but good old baking soda is an alkaline that will help balance the excess acid. A little pinch should do the trick.

The best way to store pasta

Once you have cooked pasta, let any leftovers cool thoroughly and then store it in the fridge within 2 hours of being cooked. Moisture trapped when warm pasta is sealed up and placed in the fridge can create the perfect environment for bacteria or mold to grow ( 2 , 3 ).

You are welcome

It basically is an automatism and it is considered the cornerstone of basic politeness. If someone says “grazie” to you and you don't reply “prego,” you might be considered rude, so watch out for that!

Ragu offers a full-body flavor that leans a bit more on sweeter notes. Prego has a slightly spicier and chunkier sauce which can be great for all-purpose cooking. Ragu pairs incredibly well with pasta, while Prego can be used for any Italian recipe!

Why do Italian people say Prego? ›

To say you're welcome in Italian

When someone says “thank you”, Italians reply with prego. That's how you say “you're” welcome in Italian.

Mediterranean diet

As the renowned medical journal Lancet points out, eating habits play a key role when it comes to Italians and longevity. A large part of the population can easily bring fresh and healthy food to the table, regardless of social status and income. This is what makes the difference.

Here's the kicker: There's no similar word or dish for gravy in Italy. The traditional Italian-American dish with red gravy (or sauce) is based on Neapolitan ragu made with meat, tomato, and onion that's commonly served with pasta. If you visit Naples, you won't find the word “gravy” on any menus.

Some people think only New Yorkers or pre-WWII immigrants say gravy and that more recent immigrants say sauce. Both camps insist only “real” Italians say the word they use.

Spaghetti sauce is acidic and heavy by itself, so it requires a more moderate red wine. The best dry red wine for cooking spaghetti sauce is Chianti. Chianti can be either medium or full-bodied, which gives it a good range for use in cooking, but it's the flavor that makes it so loved.

Old World Sauce is a seasoned tomato sauce and it's a sauce designed exclusively for the Pepperoni Margherita.

Everything tastes better with some sautéed garlic and onions. Sauté finely chopped onions and garlic in olive oil until fragrant and golden, then add the sauce and let it simmer so the flavors can meld together.

basil is usually added to tomato sauce. parsley is often used with fish or shellfish sauce. you will never see lasagne, tortellini, bolognese ragù with herbs on top.

Why add butter? Its richness cuts through the acidity of the tomatoes resulting in a sauce so creamy and velvety, you might've assumed there was heavy cream if you didn't know better.

What seasoning taste good on tomatoes? ›

Adding extra sugar to any dish may seem like an American thing, but according to Michael Chiarello, chef and owner of Bottega Restaurant, it's customary practice in southern Italian cuisine.

All you need to do to improve the flavor of a jar of pasta sauce is simmer it on the stove for a bit until it reduces slightly. This allows the flavors to concentrate and deepen, which is exactly what makes homemade tomato sauce taste so good — it has the time to develop a rich, more rounded profile.

Why You Should Add Sugar to Your Spaghetti Sauce. The reason for sprinkling a pinch of sugar into a simmering saucepan of tomatoes is simple: sugar cuts the acidity of the tomatoes and creates an overall more balanced sauce.

Whilst you won't catch any self-respecting Italians adding olive to their pasta water, it's a different story once the pasta is cooked. Italians often use olive oil (specifically extra virgin olive oil) to dress cooked pasta.

Alfredo sauce is one of the most popularized American Italian pasta sauces. Alfredo is a rich and creamy sauce that is best served with chicken, however, this isn't essential.

If the pasta cooks in plain water, it will taste bland. Once the water has come to a rapid boil, toss in a tablespoon or two of salt. This will ensure that your pasta has the right texture and flavor.

If your tomato sauce is too acidic and verging on bitter, turn to baking soda, not sugar. Yes, sugar might make the sauce taste better, but good old baking soda is an alkaline that will help balance the excess acid. A little pinch should do the trick.