Best 7 Traditional Italian American Pasta Sauce Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

In the realm of culinary arts, where flavors dance and aromas tantalize the senses, the traditional Italian American pasta sauce stands as a beacon of gastronomic delight. This cherished recipe, a testament to the enduring bond between two vibrant cultures, has captivated taste buds across generations. From bustling family kitchens to the finest restaurants, the quest for the perfect pasta sauce continues to inspire aspiring chefs and delight discerning palates. With a symphony of rich tomatoes, aromatic herbs, and savory seasonings, this culinary masterpiece transcends the boundaries of time and geography, embodying the essence of comfort, tradition, and delectable indulgence. As we embark on a culinary journey to uncover the secrets of the ultimate Italian American pasta sauce, let us delve into the world of fresh ingredients, time-honored techniques, and the passion that ignites every simmering pot.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

GREAT GRANDMA'S PASTA SAUCE



Great Grandma's Pasta Sauce image

If you want to taste what the Italians are so blessed with over in Italy, I suggest you give this pasta sauce a try. You won't ever go back to your plain 'ol marinara that you thought was good. This sauce here is beyond genuine and you will love it!

Provided by Julie Chiou

Categories     Main Course     Main Entree

Time 2h10m

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 pound 80/20 ground beef OR 90/10 ground beef
6 ounce can tomato paste
6 ounce water
24 ounce jar tomato puree
5-6 cloves garlic (minced)
2 tablespoon granulated sugar
Pinch of dried oregano
Pinch of onion powder
Pinch of garlic powder
Handful of fresh basil (chopped)
Salt and pepper (to taste)

Steps:

  • In a large stockpot, saute garlic until soft and fragrant in 2 tbsp. of olive oil, about 2 minutes.
  • Throw your meat in with the garlic and brown until meat has been thoroughly cooked through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Pour in the tomato paste, tomato puree, and seasoning, including the fresh basil and sugar. Stir to mix well. With the 6 oz. can from the tomato paste, fill that with water and pour it in the stockpot as well.
  • Let mixture simmer, uncovered, for 2 or more hours (the longer the better, but minimum 2 hours), stirring occasionally.
  • Serve hot over fresh pasta.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 serving, Calories 263 kcal, Carbohydrate 24 g, Protein 23 g, Fat 9 g, Fiber 5 g, Sugar 15 g

AUTHENTIC (QUICK) ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE FOR PASTA



Authentic (Quick) Italian Tomato Sauce for Pasta image

NOTE: To enjoy with pasta as soon as the sauce is ready, put a large pot of salted water on the cooktop over high heat and cook the pasta (I prefer De Cecco) as directed (if you are using egg or a very quick cooking pasta, do this about half-way through these directions).

Provided by Christina Conte

Categories     Main Courses

Time 15m

Number Of Ingredients 7

4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 to 5 cloves fresh garlic (not in a jar, dried, powdered, or frozen) preferably grown in USA/Europe
small bunch of fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped (my family likes to use parsley in sugo)
1 (28-32 oz) about 800g carton/jar of whole, chopped tomatoes or puree (like Mutti, or Bionaturae) any tomatoes listed on the Greatest Tomatoes from Europe site will be fantastic or about 1 lb of fresh tomatoes (San Marzano, Roma or cherry tomatoes are great)
about 1 1/2 level tsp sea salt
3 or 4 large leaves of fresh basil, more to add to each plate, if desired
Parmigiano Reggiano to grate on top

Steps:

  • Pour the oil into a large saute pan (not a deep pot) over medium high heat. Crush the garlic and add it to the oil (if you want a spicy sauce, you can add some hot pepper, fresh or flakes, at this point). Saute the garlic until it just starts to brown, then add the parsley.
  • Turn the heat up to high. Now add the tomatoes, and quickly cover with the lid for about 30 seconds, until the squirting subsides. Stir with a wooden spoon and lower the heat a little. It is important that this sauce is cooked at a fast simmer, as it is cooked briefly.
  • Add the salt and continue to simmer at a fast pace, and stir often.
  • The sauce will thicken quickly, so do not overcook it, and have it become too thick; about 5 to 7 minutes should be sufficient.
  • Taste the sauce, if it doesn't taste delicious, it probably just needs a little more salt. Turn off the heat and add the fresh basil (I tear mine into pieces). Also, unless absolutely necessary, do not wash your basil. Wipe it with a damp paper towel instead, so the water doesn't ruin the flavor and aroma.
  • Add sauce to the drained pasta (save some pasta water to add back into the pasta in case it's too dry), and enjoy immediately with some freshly grated authentic Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and/or pepper.
  • Also, if you've been plating pasta in a bowl, then topping it with sauce, this is American-style. If you want to serve it the way they do in Italy, mix the sauce in and then plate it.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 135 calories, Carbohydrate 8 grams carbohydrates, Cholesterol 1 milligrams cholesterol, Fat 12 grams fat, Fiber 3 grams fiber, Protein 2 grams protein, SaturatedFat 2 grams saturated fat, ServingSize 4, Sodium 498 milligrams sodium, Sugar 4 grams sugar, TransFat 0 grams trans fat, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams unsaturated fat

OLD WORLD ITALIAN SPAGHETTI SAUCE



Old World Italian Spaghetti Sauce image

This is a great old world Family recipe. Its also great with italian sausage,or meatballs. Just stir often while cooking when using meats.

Provided by FarahC

Categories     Sauces

Time 3h25m

Yield 12-14 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
1 (28 ounce) can tomato puree
2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 cup onion, chopped
3 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 cup dry red wine
2 1/2 cups water

Steps:

  • In a large stockpot on low-med heat add your olive oil and saute your onions for about 4 minutes,then add your crushed garlic,cook for 2 minutes longer. Then add your water,and tomato products. Be sure to mix everything very well.Add in your spices,and cheese. cook for 2 1/2 hours covered.Then add in your wine, and cook 30 minutes longer. Sauce will be thin on first day.Also if you use meat it will alter thickness.The second day this turns into a nice thick sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 158.6, Fat 5.2, SaturatedFat 1, Cholesterol 1.8, Sodium 647.1, Carbohydrate 25.2, Fiber 5.2, Sugar 9.7, Protein 5.5

ITALIAN PASTA SAUCE



Italian Pasta Sauce image

I picked up this recipe when I lived in Italy; everyone loves it. Thought it was time to share! The Merlot and chicken granules are very important ingredients that set this recipes aside from other sauces.

Provided by Celeste Debruzzi

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes     Sauce Recipes     Pasta Sauce Recipes     Tomato

Time 1h15m

Yield 18

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 large cloves garlic, minced
2 (28 ounce) cans tomato sauce
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
¾ cup Merlot wine
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
3 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules
3 tablespoons dried basil leaves
3 tablespoons Italian seasoning
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir onion and garlic in hot oil until the onion is translucent, 5 to 7 minutes.
  • Sit tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, wine, tomato paste, chicken bouillon granules, basil, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper with the onion mixture. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat to low, and cook at a simmer, stirring frequently, for 1 hour.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 63.5 calories, Carbohydrate 10.1 g, Cholesterol 0.1 mg, Fat 1.2 g, Fiber 2.6 g, Protein 2.4 g, SaturatedFat 0.2 g, Sodium 788.1 mg, Sugar 6.3 g

ITALIAN PASTA SAUCE



Italian Pasta Sauce image

As a special part of their wedding buffet, my daughter Kris' husband fixed a big batch of this thick flavorful pasta sauce. The recipe was brought by his grandmother from Italy more than 80 years ago. -Judy Braun, Juneau, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 2h55m

Yield 20 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 16

4 pounds ground beef
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
1 large onion, finely chopped
3 celery ribs, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cans (28 ounces each) crushed tomatoes in puree
3 cans (6 ounces each) tomato paste
3 cups chicken or beef broth
1 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
3/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1 tablespoon sugar
2 to 3 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice, optional
Hot cooked pasta

Steps:

  • In a Dutch oven or soup kettle, cook beef in 2 batches over medium heat until no longer pink; drain and set aside. Cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain and set aside. In the same pan, saute onion, celery and garlic in oil until vegetables are tender. , Return the beef and sausage to the pan. Add the next 9 ingredients, including allspice if desired, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until sauce reaches desired thickness, stirring occasionally, 2-3 hours. Serve over pasta.Freeze option: Freeze cooled sauce in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally. Add a little broth or water if necessary.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 284 calories, Fat 15g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 57mg cholesterol, Sodium 821mg sodium, Carbohydrate 16g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 23g protein.

AUTHENTIC ITALIAN AMERICAN MARINARA SAUCE/ RED GRAVY



Authentic Italian American Marinara Sauce/ Red Gravy image

If you are Italian, or were lucky enough to grow up with some, this is the red sauce that you knew. you may have called it "gravy", or "red sauce". whatever you called it, you loved it. it is a marinara sauce, and look for my meatball recipe, as this is what you should be cooking them in.

Provided by An Italian Jew

Categories     Sauces

Time 4h20m

Yield 46 CUPS, 46 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

10 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes, use ones from Italy if you can, but any will really do as all crushed tomatoes are canned when the t
1 large white onion
1/2 head garlic
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/16 cup salt
1/16 cup pepper
3/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup dried oregano
8 bay leaves, dried

Steps:

  • Rough chop onion and garlic.
  • Heat up a large pan on medium heat.
  • Pour in all of olive oil.
  • Dump in onion and sauté until soft.
  • Add garlic, bay leaf, oregano, salt and pepper.
  • Stir all together into a mess and continue to cook, if it seems to hot, turn down the heat, you don't want to burn anything.
  • Once everything is well mixed and cooked, turn up the heat for about 1 minute. I tell you to do this as you are about to add the balsamic vinegar to "deglaze" and you will want the pan hot.
  • Add balsamic, stir quickly while hot steam rises. the vapors should make you eyes water, and nose run, so be careful to remain hygienic. when vapors stop remove from heat.
  • Open all the cans of crushed tomato.
  • Stir in one can at a time with wooden spoon or rubber spatula.
  • Once all cans are in, stir well again so you don't see any oil on the top of sauce. return to heat. Cook on low heat uncovered, stirring whenever you walk into the kitchen for some other reason. You don't need to stir it every hour, but do it whenever you get around to it. although you do need to stir it from time to time.
  • Cook for at least five hours. If you want to do this while you go to work, you can transfer everything to a crock pot, but you must start in a big metal pot. Your choice.
  • Serve over your favorite pasta, or use to cook my meatball recipe, which is highly recommended ( look at the reviews). doing my meatballs is particularly easy if you have transferred gravy to a crock pot, but if you do you may need to remove some sauce to fit the balls in the sauce.
  • Freeze left over sauce, just pour cooled sauce in zip-lock bags and throw in freezer.

TRADITIONAL ITALIAN SAUCE



Traditional Italian Sauce image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dinner Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 16

1/2 cup plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, peeled and halved
1/4 pound piece spiced pancetta
10 cloves garlic (5 pressed, 2 finely chopped, 3 cracked)
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 thirty-five-ounce cans plum tomatoes, pureed in a blender
1 twenty-eight-ounce can tomato puree
6 large fresh basil leaves
2 medium lean beef cutlets (about 9 ounces each)
1 tablespoon fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
2 teaspoons freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese, plus more for garnish
4 to 5 links sweet pork sausage with fennel (about 3/4 pound)
4 pork spare ribs (about 3/4 pound)
1/2 cup white wine
Meatballs With Eleanora Meatballs with Eleanora
1 pound pasta, such as ziti, penne, or pennoni

Steps:

  • In a large saucepan, heat 1/4 cup oil over medium heat. Add onion, pancetta, pressed garlic, and salt; saute; 2 minutes. Stir in pureed tomatoes, tomato puree, and basil. Bring to a simmer, and cook for 45 minutes. Remove and discard onion halves.
  • Place beef cutlets on work surface. Sprinkle each piece with 2 teaspoons olive oil, 1 clove finely chopped garlic, 1 teaspoon parsley, and 1 teaspoon cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Roll beef, and tie with kitchen twine.
  • Heat remaining 1/4 cup oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add cracked garlic, and cook for 2 minutes. Place rolled beef, sausage, and spare ribs in skillet and cook until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add wine, and cook for 2 minutes. Remove browned meat from pan, and add to sauce along with meatballs.
  • Add 2 cups water, and return to a simmer. Cook, stirring frequently, over medium heat for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
  • Just before sauce is finished bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook until al dente, following package instructions. Drain, and transfer to a large serving platter. Stir sauce to combine, and ladle sauce over pasta. Serve meats on a separate platter. Sprinkle cheese over pasta and meats.

Tips:

  • Use high-quality tomatoes: The better the tomatoes, the better the sauce. Look for ripe, flavorful tomatoes that are free of blemishes.
  • Don't overcook the sauce: Simmering the sauce for too long will make it lose its flavor and become watery. Cook it just until the flavors have melded and the sauce has thickened slightly.
  • Add some acidity: A little bit of acidity can help to brighten up the sauce and balance out the sweetness of the tomatoes. You can add acidity with lemon juice, vinegar, or white wine.
  • Season the sauce to taste: Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste. You may also want to add a pinch of sugar to help balance out the acidity.
  • Let the sauce rest: After you've made the sauce, let it rest for a while before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld and develop.

Conclusion:

Making traditional Italian-American pasta sauce is a great way to enjoy a delicious and authentic Italian meal at home. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create a sauce that is sure to impress your family and friends. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!

Related Topics