How do I level up Prego, Ragu, Barilla etc, Spaghetti sauce?

How do I make store bought spaghetti sauce better in flavor and substance?

I've got the meatballs on lock.

Got the fresh made pasta on lock.

I lack skill in the spaghetti sauce...

How do I wow with this sauce?

originally posted by: EternalSolace
How do I make store bought spaghetti sauce better in flavor and substance?

I've got the meatballs on lock.

Got the fresh made pasta on lock.

I lack skill in the spaghetti sauce...

How do I wow with this sauce?

Well, my cooking is limited to a microwave, but i've had canned sauce.

Usually fresh herbs or fresh peppers/veg. Basically anything fresh and non processed.

Sometimes I'll add some organic Italian seasoning, and chop up some onion to add to the sauce. I've found this gives it a little extra zip. Maybe try chopped shallots too.

a reply to: EternalSolace

If you HAVE to go that route...

Fresh parsley, fresh thyme, basil and diced shallots or garlic.

Dicing in a few Romano tomatoes and an onion would help.

A bay leaf or two couldn't hurt.

Canning takes a lot of flavor out of the spices.

So give them a perk.

a reply to: EternalSolace

Saute some sliced mushrooms, chopped garlic and onion.

Add more herbs, I like to add oregano especially.
Fresh basil if you can get it.

originally posted by: DontTreadOnMe
a reply to: EternalSolace

Saute some sliced mushrooms, chopped garlic and onion.

Add more herbs, I like to add oregano especially.
Fresh basil if you can get it.

Basil.

That's the one that I forgot that makes it all better.

originally posted by: Lumenari
a reply to: EternalSolace

If you HAVE to go that route...

Fresh parsley, fresh thyme, basil and diced shallots or garlic.



Dicing in a few Romano tomatoes and an onion would help.

A bay leaf or two couldn't hurt.

Canning takes a lot of flavor out of the spices.

So give them a perk.

Basil seems to be an essential... how do you prep basil?

originally posted by: DontTreadOnMe
a reply to: EternalSolace

Saute some sliced mushrooms, chopped garlic and onion.

Add more herbs, I like to add oregano especially.
Fresh basil if you can get it.

A lot of suggestions for basil. What's the best way to work with basil?

originally posted by: DontTreadOnMe
a reply to: EternalSolace

Saute some sliced mushrooms, chopped garlic and onion.

Add more herbs, I like to add oregano especially.
Fresh basil if you can get it.

That's basically my go to and sometimes bell pepper in the saute.

OP: Saute first then add to sauce. Big difference.

originally posted by: EternalSolace

originally posted by: DontTreadOnMe
a reply to: EternalSolace

Saute some sliced mushrooms, chopped garlic and onion.

Add more herbs, I like to add oregano especially.
Fresh basil if you can get it.

A lot of suggestions for basil. What's the best way to work with basil?

I have it growing on my windowsill...lol

I've seen grocers that sell "living spices" in their product section.

Failing that, go with the spice dried.

Although there is no substitute for fresh basil....

Oregano too! I have both growing in my yard. I also have a hand crank Italian Velox Sauce mill. I put fresh tomatoes in the hopper, and the sauce comes out one chute, and the peels and seeds out the other. You simmer it until its thickened then add fresh garlic, oregano, lemon thyme, and basil. Throw in some sea salt and fresh cracked pepper, and you blow away ant store bought stuff

You can also sauté some sliced portabella mushrooms, morels, porcini or even some button mushrooms and add those last. It will be a hit. Italians add carrots sometimes, and my Sicilian grandma always added a little cinnamon

I don't create spaghetti sauce, that is the wife's specialty. I rarely eat spaghetti, I got problems with eating tomatoes. I can only eat tomato products about once a week, but the wife loves pasta and pizzas and they do not bother her. So I will have one decent size serving and the rest is all hers. I like pizza and spaghetti, I just feel crappy after eating anything tomato.

a reply to: EternalSolace the best canned Sauce is Rao -5.00/jar at costco

Add 1 tbsp. of grape jelly per jar.

I'm not kidding.

Assume 16oz spaghetti sauce. Add 16 oz plum tomatoes. Canned. 6 oz pate. 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper. 1/4 cup roasted garlic. 1/4 cup dry oregano. A handful of fresh basil. 1/4 cup honey. 2 tablespoons salt. 1/2 cup parmesan cheese. grated. Blend all with immersion blender. Cook mixture with meatballs 30 min on low.

Buy a good sauce 2 jars Victoria Marinara.. Victoria Basil ..Raos Basil.. Raos Marinara.. Buy a few cans of good crushed tomatoes I like Jersey Fresh they are expensive but very tasty Contadina is good too hearty tasty tomato flavor Red Pack is good don't get any crushed tomato with seasoning in it except basil ...do not add oregano !!

Big pot add hot and sweet sausage brown remove add a handful of garlic brown don't burn add your bottled sauce and crushed tomatoes add about 1/2 cup chopped flat leaf parsley 5 fresh basil leaf add a sprinkling of onion powder garlic powder black pepper when sauce gets hot taste for salt normally theres no need for it.

Add sausage back in .. Add a cut up small 1/2 stick of good Italian pepperoni about 1 inch pieces (trust me) simmer very low for maybe a hour and half no longer you will loose the fresh taste.

My meatball recipe and they are the bomb! 1 pound good ground 85% beef 1/2 pound ground turkey or ground pork, turkey is the way to go adds flavor.
1 egg 1/2 cup flat leaf parsley 1/2 cup locotelli romano cheese 1/2 cup of Italian style bread crumb 1/3 - 1/2 cup of your sauce cooled 1/2 Teaspoon onion powder 1/2 garlic powder.. salt and pepper to taste I add about 1/2 teaspoon salt .. and 1/4 cup finely minced onion. Fry a little ball up in the pan after its mixed ..adjust salt if its needed. Roll and fry them in olive oil till they are brown and fully cooked 1/2 hour before you are ready to eat heat them in the sauce if you cook them longer they loose all their flavor. Enjoy.

a reply to: EternalSolace

Put the sauce in a pot with some chopped Italian sausage, add broth. Once it bubbles, set the fire lower and stir frequently until you get the right thickness.

Easy.

• Step 1: Put sauce in pot
  
• Step 2: Put pot in garbage can
  
• Step 3: Find recipe for homemade sauce that isn't loaded with sugar, salt and preservatives

My cooking is under a tree at night with collected fire wood. I started to live in the forest , but go to Mc'ds to post this.
Life is so simple when you ask the farmers to give you water and have them share their vegetables with you.
The nice thing is , their wife will make a few rice balls for you. Life in the countryside here is much different then in Kyoto.