Traditional Italian Spaghetti Sauce From Scratch
Spaghetti is one of the most popular dishes in the world. It's versatile, easy to make, and delicious. However, what makes spaghetti even better is the sauce that goes with it. While store-bought sauces are convenient, nothing beats the taste of homemade spaghetti sauce. In this article, we'll teach you how to make traditional Italian spaghetti sauce from scratch.
Ingredients
Before we start, let's go over the ingredients you need. For this recipe, you'll need:
- 1 can of whole peeled tomatoes (28 oz)
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 4-5 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 carrot, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- 1 teaspoon of dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (optional)
Make sure to use high-quality ingredients for the best results.
Instructions
Now that we have all the ingredients, let's start making our spaghetti sauce:
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and carrot, and cook until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the can of whole peeled tomatoes, including the juice. Using a wooden spoon, break the tomatoes into chunks.
- Add the salt, sugar, dried basil, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Let the sauce simmer for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- After 30 minutes, use an immersion blender to blend the sauce until it’s smooth. If you don't have an immersion blender, you can transfer the sauce to a blender and blend it in batches.
- Let the sauce simmer for another 10-15 minutes until it thickens.
- Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if needed.
And that's it! Your traditional Italian spaghetti sauce is ready.
Tips
Here are some tips to help you make the perfect spaghetti sauce:
- Use San Marzano tomatoes if you can find them. They are sweeter and less acidic than other varieties, which makes them perfect for spaghetti sauce.
- If you want a chunkier sauce, you can skip step 5 and leave the sauce as is.
- If you want a smoother sauce, you can strain it through a fine-mesh sieve after blending it.
- If you're using fresh herbs instead of dried, use three times the amount.
- If you're making a large batch of sauce, you can freeze it for up to 3 months.
Conclusion
Homemade spaghetti sauce is a great way to elevate your spaghetti game. With just a few simple ingredients and some patience, you can make a delicious sauce that will impress your family and friends. So next time you're in the mood for spaghetti, skip the store-bought sauce and make your own. You won't regret it!
