Favorite spaghetti sauce oddball ingredients?

Answer 1

Heres a few ideas I use in a resturant.
If your using regular tomatoes try coring them and stuffing garlic cloves in it, then place on a grill and char them black, put in a tupperware while hot and plastic wrap for a few, then peel off skin and crush, use these to make your sauce, amazing flavor.
also try adding some crushed roasted red peppers to the sauce, adds a sweetness thats goes well with pasta.

Answer 2

) Capers. Preferably buy a small jar of the salted ones. It does seem like an expense but they last ages and taste so much better than those preserved in brine that become soggy and a bit sour. Capers can be chopped up and stirred into creme fraiche or mayonaisse with some seasoning and a squirt of lemon to make a lovely homemade tartare sauce - perfect with fish fingers (remember, this is the end of the month!!). Again, they are an essential part of Pasta Puttansesca. I recently made a yummy butter with capers and finely chopped shallots that I slathered on bread and topped with fish roe (another super-cheap food item). Capers can be used to spruce up all manner of salads, hot tomato sauces etc.

Answer 3

Vodka & Bacon

Vodka Sauce
2 Tbs. butter
5 strips bacon
1/3 cp. vodka
1 1/2 cps. tomato sauce
1/2 cp. heavy cream (whipping cream)

melt butter over moderate heat
add bacon & cook until medium crisp
remove bacon & drain on papertowel
remove pan from heat & add vodka
cut bacon into like 1/4 pieces & place back into pan
place the pan back on the stove & cook until reduced by half
add tomato sauce & cream
simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes

I serve mine with bow tie or mini penne pasta, hot garlic bread & a baby spinach tossed salad....
MMMMMMMM!!!! GOOOOD!!!!!

Answer 4

Whole pitted black olives. I usually add 2 cans of the olives, of course I make a HUGE amount (in a big canning pot) because I prepare it the old Italian way and it takes hours, so I make a bunch and freeze it.

Answer 5

Vodka

PENNE WITH VODKA AND TOMATO CREAM SAUCE

1 Tablespoon butter
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 (28 oz.) can Italian plum tomatoes, drained, seeded, chopped
1 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup of vodka
1/4 tsp. dried crushed red pepper
freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Melt butter with oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until translucent, about 8 minutes.

Add tomatoes and cook until almost no liquid remains in pan, stirring frequently, about 25 minutes. Add cream, vodka, and red pepper and boil until thickened to sauce consistency, about 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Sauce can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate)

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Drain well. Transfer to large bowl. Bring sauce to simmer. Pour over pasta and toss well. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve.

Answer 6

spicy italian sausauge and a sweet based sauce.. add two tablespoons brown sugar or 1/4 cup maple syrup... real only don't try to substitute the fake pancake syrup.

Answer 7

I hide lots of veggies in there. Shhh, don't tell my kids.
My husband adds cinnamon to his bolognese, I think it's pretty weird but yummy.

Answer 8

Terriaki sauce and brown sugar....Ohhh YUM.... now I want some!!...{ added to the traditional meat sauce}

Answer 9

nutmeg and ground red chili pods

Answer 10

olives, jalapenos, stewed tomatoes