My Spaghetti and Meatballs always tastes bland?

Question

I use Prego Marinara Sauce, salt and pepper, green pepper, onion and garlic. What else can I add to make it taste better?

Answer 1

I use
tinned chopped tomatoes
tomato puree
garlic
onion
basil
is my standard sauce however a friend told me always add a pinch of sugar when cooking the sauce to take the bitterness out of the tomato.

for a change of taste you can add
capers
pine nuts
oregano
red wine
chilli

just experiment and see what you like best

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Prego is made by Campbell Soup, and it *tastes* like it.

In most grocery stores, you will find brands that are considerably better, sometimes for less money.

Buy the sauce *without* meat, mushrooms, etc., in it, as the flavors tend to blend with each other. Adding fresh ingredients gives you a variety of tastes in the sauce, not one boring taste all the way through.

You might also consider the cheese(s) you are using. Buying solid blocks of parmesan, you get a lot better taste than those green cardboard cans of grated sawdust offer.

If you want to have *really* good sauce, start with Angela Alessio's legendary Italian spaghetti sauce, and no, it's not one of those brands that is cheaper than Prego. You can order it online, or it's available at some stores near Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

I don't regularly shop those stores, so the only time I get her sauce is when I go to Root's Farmer's Market - she has a stand there. And I don't mean to suggest that there aren't some other really good sauces out there, but this one is so good, I want to cry.

Your spaghetti and meatball will also taste better if you make garlic bread to go with it. I get hoagie rolls at the Italian bakery down the street, slice them lengthwise, slather one side with garlic butter (just mix minced garlic and real butter, and stir) and drip extra-virgin olive oil on the other side, then wrap it up neatly in aluminum foil and pop it in the oven at 400F for 10 to 15 minutes.

Answer 4

If you have time, make your own sauce. If not, try a new brand other than Prego. Make sure to use lots of herbs in the meatballs and add more to the sauce and when you cook the meatballs, only do so halfway, so you can put them IN the sauce to finish . . . that way, the meat adds a nice flavor to the sauce. Also, fresh parmasean instead of the green can!

Answer 5

Basil, oregano, sage, cayenne, parsley, cilantro, chili powder, red pepper flakes.

Rather than that damned watery prego, why not spring for a nice can of tomato puree--start by sauteeing the onion and green pepper, add the garlic at the end of the sautee so it doesn't burn, then pour in the tomato, add spices (experiment and find your own preferred blend) and let simmer for a half-hour or so.

Maybe instead of puree, use crushed tomato--or diced tomato and a small can tomato paste (need to cook diced tomato longer).

Make it the day before and refrigerate overnight--the flavors of the sauce enhance one another better if they get to know each other.

Answer 6

One thing that I use to add intense flavor to my spaghetti sauce is I add one of those dry spaghetti sauce packets to my sauce. You usually can find these on the spice isle in your local grocery store. McCormick makes this seasoning, but I usually buy the grocery store (Kroger) brand. Also try adding some garlic powder. About a teaspoon should do it. Hope this helps.

Answer 7

Hot Sauce Baby!

Answer 8

Being Italian, I most always make homemade sauce, however if I need a quick fix, I use "Classico" brand jar sauce, either the basil, garlic or the sausage flavor. It's the best.

Answer 9

I quite like her style, shes cool to watch, And her recipes seem to include flavourful ingredients. BUT.. She chops everything like wayyy to big, like in chunks the size of a frickn golfball lol! Shes definitley rustic, and her meals would be okay for family and at home, but I wouldn't say a restaurant style cuisine. I wouldn't really bother with her recipes.

Answer 10

I also like some of "Paul Newman" spaghetti sauces...try the "Sockaroon" version.
Good luck!