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susan's spaghetti sauce

(2 ratings)
frenchtutor avatar
Recipe by
Susan Feliciano
@frenchtutor
Oak Ridge, TN

Friends and family often ask me for my spaghetti sauce recipe. Most of the time, it is just a jar - Prego, Ragu, 4 Brothers, or something like that. I find those economical and very tasty, and they are canned in glass without the worry of BPA's (those scary things in the can linings). But I do have a sauce recipe, and even though it has many variations, I pretty much fix it the same way every time. So here is what I do when I'm feeling domestic, or when my girls ask me to make my own sauce.

(2 ratings)
yield 6 serving(s)
prep time 30 Min
cook time 1 Hr
method Stove Top

Ingredients For susan's spaghetti sauce

  • 3 Tbsp
    olive oil
  • 1 lg
    onion, finely chopped
  • 1
    green bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 1
    red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 3-4 clove
    garlic, minced
  • salt, pepper
  • 1 can
    diced tomatoes in sauce
  • 2 sm
    cans tomato sauce
  • 1/2 c
    finely grated carrot
  • 1 Tbsp
    dried italian herbs, like oregano and basil, *or* 2-3 tablespoons fresh herbs, finely chopped
  • 1 c
    wine (or tomato juice)
  • 1/2 c
    finely grated parmesan or romano cheese

How To Make susan's spaghetti sauce

  • 1
    Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan. Sauté the onion and peppers until soft, then add in the garlic and continue cooking until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute more. Season with a little salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  • 2
    Stir in the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce and blend well. Stir in the carrots. The carrots are used to sweeten the sauce without sugar, and to reduce the acidity of the tomatoes somewhat. Add the fresh or dried herbs. Partially cover and simmer about 30-40 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking.
  • 3
    Stir in the wine or tomato juice and simmer, uncovered, until reduced to your desired consistency, normally about 15 minutes. Stir in the parmesan cheese.
  • 4
    Serve sauce over pasta or meatballs, Italian sausage, or use on pizza. This freezes well, so double the recipe and make a large batch.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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