How to Make Simple Spaghetti Sauce

Spaghetti sauce on a bed of noodles is a simple, yet hearty, family style meal.

Spaghetti is a fast, healthy alternative to a fast food meal. Spaghetti sauce is best when made with in-season, fresh ingredients -- but staples like canned tomatoes and dried spices work well enough. Match a sauce with vegetable infused pasta or add ground beef for a filling meal. Add some Italian garlic bread to sop up the extra sauce. The real beauty of sauce is that, with a few simple tweaks, it can go from sweet and sassy to hot or even savory.

Things You'll Need

• Traditional Spaghetti Sauce
• 1 can diced tomatoes 15 oz. or two large beefsteak tomatoes
• 1 can tomato sauce 15 oz.(with green chilies if you like a bit of spice)
• 1 can tomato paste 6 oz. (go low salt if possible)
• 2 tbs. granulated white sugar
• 1/2 tsp. basil or six finely shredded fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 tsp. oregano or six sprigs of fresh oregano leaves
• 1/2 tsp. crushed black pepper
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt
• 2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
• 5 quart saucepan
• Wooden spoon
• Vegetable Spaghetti Sauce
• 2 tbsp. olive or vegetable oil
• 1 cup onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2 16 oz. cans whole tomatoes, undrained
• 2 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
• 2 tbsp. chopped fresh or 2 tsp dried basil leaves
• 1 tbsp. chopped fresh or 1 tsp dried oregano leaves
• 1/2 tsp. coarse sea salt
• 1/2 tsp. fennel seed
• 1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
• Medium sauce pan
• Cream Sauce
• 1 cup white wine
• 1 shallot, chopped
• 1 large clove garlic, chopped
• 2 cups heavy cream
• Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper
• Medium saucepan

Instructions

Quick Traditional Spaghetti Sauce

1. Place the saucepan on the burner over medium low heat.

2. Coat the pan with extra virgin olive oil.

3. Add the fresh tomatoes and saute until the skins fall off. Remove and discard the skins. If you are using canned tomatoes, skip this step.

4. Add tomato sauce and paste to the pan. Mix them together and heat through until the sauce reaches a thick consistency and dime-sized bubbles pop off the surface.

5. Add the sugar and spices all at once and stir them into the sauce with a wooden spoon.

6. Simmer the sauce for 15 minutes to allow the spices to permeate the tomato sauce.

7. Serve immediately over a bed of pasta.

Simple Vegetable Sauce

1. Heat oil in a medium sauce pan over med-high heat for two minutes, or until it begins to bubble.

2. Place whole tomatoes (liquid and all), tomato sauce, basil leaves, oregano leaves, salt, fennel seed and pepper into the pan and mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon.

3. Turn the stove up to high and heat the mixture until boiling, then bring it down to a simmer.

4. Break up the tomatoes with the side of the spoon.

5. Cover the mixture and simmer for about 45 minutes. Stir occasionally. Add salt to taste. Serve over fresh, warm pasta.

Cream Sauce

1. Place wine, shallot and garlic in a medium saucepan.

2. Heat on high until the mixture is reduced by half (about 1/2 cup remaining).

3. Add in the cream and cook until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon without running.

4. Season to taste with fresh ground black pepper and sea salt.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want a spicier dish, add 1 tsp. of crushed red pepper flakes or some fresh diced jalapeno.

• For a savory flavor, add 1/2 tsp. of thyme (or three fresh sprigs).

• Like your spaghetti sauce sweet? Exchange the white sugar for brown sugar and add a teaspoon of dark molasses.

References

• Food; My Super Simple Spaghetti Sauce Recipe; November 2007
• Cully's Kitchen; Italian le Spaghetti Sauce RecipeRecipes; Simp
• Spaghetti Sauce Recipe: Italian Spaghetti Sauce
• Caprial and John's Kitchen; Recipes; Simple Cream Sauce