If you’re in the mood for a little spice and want to kick your sauce up a notch, sizzle some red pepper flakes and jalapeños in oil then add them to your sauce before topping off your pasta. - chop up some fresh basil and cut a handful of cherry tomatoes in half. Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. The leaves often have a slimy texture and don't add much flavor to the sauce, unlike fresh herbs. Ham (prosciutto is way better) and spinach, toss with olive oil in a sauce pan slat and pepper. Sometimes you've just got to pop open a jar of store-bought tomato sauce. Try a simple oil and garlic dressing. These simple and spectacular Southern cakes deserve a comeback. Quickly Add Extra Flavour to Any Pasta: This is wildly simple, I don't know how common it is but while boiling up some pasta for dinner I thought it would be worth a go. To give it a Spanish-style flavor, add some spiced paprika and a little bit of orange zest. 5 Ways to Gussy Up a Jar of Pasta Sauce | SimplyRecipes.com It's not real cooking, but you can get a bottle of Olive Garden salad dressing from the grocery store, drizzle it over the pasta and toss it to coat. So good!!! Put it in a glass casserole dish, add the cheese and fried onions on top and bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until it looks like crunchy brown baked goodness. Change it every time, or create one that is your signature sauce. This Will Make Store-Bought Tomato Sauce Taste So Much Better. Great for any pasta, lasagna, stuffed shells, chicken or veal parmesan. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. 5. Do ONE of these, not ALL of them at once. Or maybe you're making a labor-intensive dish like lasagna and want to save a little time in the kitchen. Marcella Hazan's Amazing 4-Ingredient Tomato Sauce. The trendy haircuts you’ll be seeing everywhere next year. Add chilli flakes and fresh ground pepper. Post anything related to cooking here, within reason. 20 Creative Recipes to Spice Up Your Next Bowl of Spaghetti Casey Watkins. And while it's totally worth doing if you have the time, some nights it's just not an option. Yes, that's right. Once the pasta is ready, try giving the container a shake to loosen any noodles that stuck together. Half Baked Harvest. There's nothing better than real, homemade tomato sauce, but to really develop the flavors, it usually has to simmer for a few hours. 5 Ways to Amp Up Jarred Pasta Sauce Cooking with a jar of store-bought marinara can be a serious time saver. But you should be able to get fresh garlic, parsley, and parm very easily. This is a delicious, comforting, and easy way to serve up pasta. I first learned about adding cream to a tomato sauce from a friend. (Not dried) Add roasted and mashed garlic cloves. Simple but delicious. That's where the pre-made stuff comes in. Add red pepper flakes. Bonus if you add ground sechuan pepper corns. Tastes good. Experiment with different spices and liquids to change things up. Press J to jump to the feed. Pour over drained hot pasta in a large serving bowl, squeeze the juice of 1 lemon over all and season with salt and white pepper. The wife had discovered single pot pasta. Add some cut up kalamata olives, quartered artichoke hearts, spinach leaves, 2 cups or more of grape tomatoes, sliced portabello mushrooms and bring to a boil and then simmer until the liquid is nearly all gone. - add the pasta, turn off the heat, and quickly stir in a well-beaten egg w/ lots of black pepper (essentially a bacon-less carbonara). it'd DELICIOUS, and so easy. A little oil, salt, and some oregano, basil, or rosemary can add instant oomph to a boring bowl of rice. Heating the sauce on the stovetop, even for a few minutes, will bring all of the ingredients together, which makes it taste and smell so much better. Here's a few of Saulsbury's suggestions for how to spice up plain old pasta. Get the recipe here. The trick is to toss in a splash of water before heating for one minute. A tablespoon of Hunt’s ® Tomato Paste will thicken the sauce a bit and give it some depth and richness. Hey, I have some leftover plain pasta, I am not very demanding, so I always find something to pair with my pasta, my usual combo is olive oil, garlic power, salt and basil. Add fresh parsley. Pasta is a prime example. Browned butter and parmesan: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019980-pasta-with-brown-butter-and-parmesan, aglio olio or cacio a pepe!! 2-2.5 cups of water in a pot. Heat olive oil in a pan, add crushed red pepper and garlic. 1. In a medium saucepan, bring the water (or broth), salt, butter, and oil to a boil. Brown scallops in a skillet while the pasta is cooking, then prepare a fragrant garlic, olive oil, and wine sauce to pair with the angel hair, tomato, corn, and scallops. Use plain or fruit-flavored yogurt mixed with sour cream or mayo; Pasta Salad Mix-in Ideas. Make the salad a hearty main dish by adding cubed cooked turkey, rotisserie chicken, deli ham, roast beef, salami, imitation crab meat or a well-drained can of tuna. With a few store-bought pasta sauce hacks, you can turn a jar of premade sauce into your new favorite dinner. He had cooked a red sauce, and at the end, after he had plated the pasta and sauce, he poured heavy cream on top. Yes! 7. Basic Tomato Sauce: there are a whole lot of recipes for a basic tomato-based pasta sauce floating around there on the web. there's no cooking or chopping or dishes involved, you just grind/dump everything on there. Sometimes it is just easier to stop by your local grocery store to pick up a container of the store-made potato salad. Southern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. Would be better if you had some pasta water to help the sauce come together but I imagine it will still be good. You can cook up some chicken and make a creamy bechamel lemon pepper sauce. These are high in heart-healthy unsaturated fats, as opposed to butter, which is loaded with saturated fat. I like to make brown butter and then fry some herbs in it (sage is particularly good). It's good. Red pepper flakes, dehydrated or fresh garlic, dried oregano, parsley, or basil, or an Italian seasoning blend are all good options. 2-2.5 cups of water in a pot. The Recipe: This browned butter scallop and burst tomato basil pasta recipe is full of fresh produce and big flavors. It’s delicious! Twirl pasta with tongs and build it high on your plate. If you’re fond of a particularly bold red wine or Chianti, stir in some with a little tomato paste. Add the cherry tomatoes to the pan a couple mins before you add the pasta. my favorite way to eat 'plain' pasta is with a big knob of butter, a TON of freshly grated black pepper, a bit of nutmeg, and a big handful of (hopefully freshly grated) parm cheese. Garlic and Butter. Turn to basil, garlic and oregano to wake up a sleeping tomato cream sauce. Use heart-healthy oils instead of butter: Pick oils like olive, canola or walnut oil. - sautee the garlic & pepper flakes in oil, then when it's fragrant, toss in a can of baby clams (liquid and all) and cook for a few minutes before adding the pasta. You can add them to salads, eat them plain, mix them with sauces, etc. Stir in the couscous, cover tightly with a lid, and remove from heat. To hot, drained pasta, add 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan, ¾ cup grated Emmentaler, Gruyere or Edam and the same amount of mozzarella or fontina. or garlic, olive oil and basil. Homemade tomato sauce is a wonderful thing, but it's not always possible to whip up a batch on a busy weeknight, when dinner needs to come together in minutes. If you put your leftovers in the fridge, they’ll stay good for up to 1 week. We don't always have the time to make a potato salad from scratch. Please don’t ever put ketchup on pasta ever again. All it needs is a little doctoring. Parmesan and black pepper with some oil/butter. Buy a jar of marinated artichokes, chop them up and add it to the pasta as you warm it, use some of the marinating oil on the pasta. As you're cooking the noodles, simmer about 1 ⁄ 2 cup (120 mL) of extra virgin olive oil, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 1 teaspoon (5 grams) of salt in a skillet over low heat. Never serve store-bought pasta sauce straight out of the jar, even if you're pouring it over something that is piping hot, like cooked pasta or meatballs. Tackle gatherings to go with a bright pasta salad. Spash of soy sauce mixed with sesame paste (tahini will work) and a tbs of sugar. Top with parsley and cheese. Jarred pasta sauce certainly doesn't taste the same, but it's really easy to dress up when you need something quick. If you've never tried it before, it might seem strange, but a little butter makes tomato sauce rich and smooth, and also balances out too much acidity, which is common in jarred sauces. I dont know too much about spices and herbs, so I would welcome any suggestions that are easy to do and dont need any special ingredients! Toss in a few tablespoons of butter, and let it melt into the sauce. After you add the pasta, wilt in the basil. Spaghetti and meatballs. the japanese sometimes put fried egg on top of pasta. If you make it right, it should be garlicky and have some heat and taste a little sweet from the ketchup. And fortunately, it doesn't take any time at all. Add to sauce. IMO the fresh garlic makes a huge difference, compared to powdered. on after you add the pasta (they're kind of special ingredients, but they keep in the fridge for ages), - sautee some anchovy filets (smash them up) / chopped black olives with the garlic. Add some cut up kalamata olives, quartered artichoke hearts, spinach leaves, 2 cups or more of grape tomatoes, sliced portabello mushrooms and bring to a boil and then simmer until the liquid is nearly all gone. If you have time, allow the sauce to reduce on low heat for 15 to 30 minutes. Obligatory r/cooking mention of aglio e olio: Heat some olive oil on low, add chopped garlic and chili flakes and cook until tender, add the cooked pasta and toss, squeeze lemon juice in and add a good amount of fresh parsley. Well, before you go confining it to nights of desperation when you can’t think of anything else to make, liven it up with these 20 recipes that will make spaghetti new for you again… exotic, even! 6. It was fantastic. It will do. Add some feta cheese, diced onion or crumbled bacon for good measure. It unable fresh cracked pepper is a good stand in. Then … Worst case use jar sauce and even that hurts to say. How to Make Store-Bought Potato Salad Better If you want to save them for later, put them in a plastic or glass container in the fridge. Adding rice seasoning to this basic grain can take the flavor profile to the next level. try changing things up by adding veggies into your pasta-spinach, Roasted red peppers, sundried tomatoes. Use your imagination. Honestly, picking out … Puree them up and add in- you may need to add in a little more flour so that your mix will firm up. Stir the pasta and continue heating in one-minute increments until warm. Be your own kitchen goddess. Add fresh garlic to the oil while it’s cold. Casserole: Add Mushrooms, Peas, Pasta, Creamy Sauce and Breadcrumbs Get the Recipe: Skillet Tuna Noodle Casserole Known as Tuna-Pea Wiggle to some, this family-friendly tuna noodle casserole tends to be made with canned soup and whole milk, which means high fat and sodium. Trust me it’s worth it. You shake it up very well and after awhile the oil will take on a definite reddish hue – the oil is quite flavorful with enough heat to pack a punch (it’s not too strong, depending on the amount of pepper flakes you use) – it really jazzes simple pasta up – and it is EXCELLENT on 4-cheese pasta. You can add protein and fiber-rich ingredients to your oatmeal — make your next morning oats with skim milk , add in a scoop of protein powder, and fresh berries so you can enjoy a filling and naturally sweet meal. Add the soup, noodles and chicken and spice it up with some sage or poultry seasoning, oregano, salt and pepper. Let the couscous steam for 5 minutes. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019980-pasta-with-brown-butter-and-parmesan. Stir gently to combine. (Not dried) Add fresh rosemary. Add pasta and garnish with parsley and some Parmesan. Play around. This will definitely make your sauce more interesting and hotter. Once there’s a bit of sizzle(without letting the garlic brown) add your pasta. Apologies. The wife had discovered single pot pasta. best simple pasta you'll ever have. To make this a meat sauce, simply brown ground beef or your favorite sausage and drain. - toss in some washed & dried baby spinach or arugula after you add the cooked pasta, and stir it around until it's wilted, - sprinkle grated cheese (parmesean, pecorino romano, etc.) 5. 5 fresh, healthy ways to dress up plain ol’ pasta. 6 pounds of penne? Southern Living is a registered trademark of, These Haircuts Are Going To Be Huge in 2021, 70 Wedding Vow Examples That Will Melt Your Heart, 7 Paint Colors We’re Loving for Kitchen Cabinets in 2020, 50 Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime. I always sauté olive oil, garlic, chopped tomatoes, olives . I just realized you said no special ingredients. Meat! Not enough to make it taste like ketchup, but it should be an orange color. Jun 01, 2014 ... Those plain old noodles in plain old marinara. Top with fresh parm and parsley. 2-3tbsp of olive oil in the pan. Bring it up to heat slowly so the flavours can blend. Dill, for something completely different. Onion and Butter Sauce Get a pan on the stove. Mix well then dress the pasta. It takes 30 seconds and can add great flavours to the pasta itself, making the end dish way nicer. It's predictable. Thicken it up. Fresh or dried herbs are perfectly easy add-ins. you can also sprinkle shredded nori. But when I tasted the combination, I changed my mind. Pack your pasta in a microwave-safe glass bowl or jar. Dried herbs and spices should be added at the beginning of the cook time so that they have time to bloom. If you're using a plain tomato (marinara) sauce, stir in seasonings to add extra flavor. Fight writer's block and find ways to express your love with these romantic, funny, and short wedding vow examples. Not all starch is bad. Fresh herbs, like basil or oregano, should be stirred in at the end, before you serve the sauce. good luck- fresh herbs-rosemary,thyme, parsley, cracked black pepper, This will concentrate the sugar and ingredients for a more robust flavor. Add 1 … Take what you have and add some hot Italian sausage and some sauteed tomatoes, onions, red peppers, and cannelini beans. Cheese, please. 4. Doctor Up a Jarred Sauce: there are cheap and easy ways to doctor up jarred sauce.Just use some creativity and make use of ingredients you already have in your possession. Toss in the pasta and add some ketchup. And by deploying a few easy tricks, you can make it taste great, too. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. If serving sauce over pasta, save a bit of the salty, starchy water (about 1/4 cup)—it will give body to the sauce and help it coat the pasta. suuuuuuper simple and suuuuuuuuuuper good. Some additions I like, using mostly things that can be kept as pantry staples or will last a while in the fridge: - sautee some shrimp or canned tuna or sliced mushrooms in the oil as the same time as the garlic. This is great as-is, and also serves as a nice base for so many simple pastas! I watched in mild horror, certain that the acidity of the tomatoes would split the cream. Toss the pasta in the pan so the garlic and olive oil blend coats the pasta. /r/Cooking is a place for the cooks of reddit and those who want to learn how to cook. Use a fork to fluff the couscous and break I avoid jarred tomato sauces that contain basil. Some use a little as 3 ingredients where others are are more involved. One pot, no mess... 1 piece of angel hair? you seem like you're not looking for something super complicated. Black pepper and dried chilli peppers with olive oil and salt. If you use peppe… ‘Tis the season to ditch your all-white palette in favor of something a little bolder and brighter. Other times I make it even easier and just go with some ketchup, or butter with maggi. There are many good brands of tomato sauce in the supermarket (we're partial to Rao's), but they all benefit from a little upgrade. Red pepper flakes, dehydrated or fresh garlic, dried oregano, parsley, or basil, or an Italian seasoning blend are all good options. 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Shortcuts, https: //cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019980-pasta-with-brown-butter-and-parmesan, aglio olio or cacio a pepe!! Soy sauce mixed with sesame paste ( tahini will work ) and spinach, toss with olive oil a!, and short wedding vow examples in seasonings to add extra flavor bold red wine or Chianti stir! Takes 30 seconds and can add great flavours to the pan a couple mins before you serve the sauce simply! Sauce more interesting and hotter a container of the cook time so your..., sundried tomatoes 3 ingredients where others are are more involved, cover with..., too salad from scratch your mix will firm up sauce, stir in to. Add a pinch of cinnamon, a little as 3 ingredients where are..., to give it some depth and richness, or create one that is your signature sauce votes not!