How to Sweeten Spaghetti Sauce | Livestrong.com (2024)

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How to Sweeten Spaghetti Sauce | Livestrong.com? ›

Add sweet wines, such as lambrusco or white zinfandel, to the sauce. These sauces will add sweetness and the alcohol will also add more flavor to the sauce.

Sweeten things up with a little sugar.

If your jarred tomato sauce is too acidic, consider adding a pinch or two of sugar (after all, it makes the medicine go down!).

Add Some Baking Soda

If your tomato sauce is too acidic and verging on bitter, turn to baking soda, not sugar. Yes, sugar might make the sauce taste better, but good old baking soda is an alkaline that will help balance the excess acid. A little pinch should do the trick.

Mirepoix. This is a combination of onion, celery and carrots. The carrots add sweetness to the sauce without needing to add sugar.

However, there is a massive difference between using jarred sauce and making tomato sauce at home, and when it comes to the latter, you'd be surprised how many chefs favor a pinch of sugar in the mix. Bobby Flay has been known to add a pinch of sugar to his tomato sauce, as noted in Food & Wine.

Tossing in strips of basil, a sprig of thyme or some oregano can take your sauce to the next level. Although fresh herbs might pop a bit more, dried herbs and spices can work just as well. Sprinkling in some red pepper flakes, a pinch of parsley and a dash of salt and pepper can liven up your jarred pasta sauce.

You can smooth out your sauce and remove the tartness by adding cream, butter, cream cheese, and/or grated cheese such as Parmesan.

blend completely 3 large carrots, an onion, as much garlic as you like, half a small pepper, 2 stalks of celery. Adding more carrot will make the sauce sweeter and less tomato tasting. Don't go over board with the pepper (particularly if using poblanos) or celery, unless you really love those flavors.

Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal. Saltiness: Salt plays two very important roles in flavouring a dish. Firstly, it balances against bitterness.

Usually no. But putting (a very small bit) of sugar or even a tiny pinch of baking soda in the tomato sauce can help if it is too acidic, but this is only done if the person cooking it is really in a rush.

How to make homemade tomato sauce sweeter? ›

I like my sauce sweeter - 1/2 Cup of Sugar That's it!!

Nutmeg. Nutmeg is the key to boosting earthiness and adding a touch of nuttiness to your spaghetti sauce. Nutmeg also has a slightly sweet flavor, which we know goes great with acidic canned tomatoes. Overall, it accentuates the other ingredients in the sauce and adds complexity.

You can use either white or brown sugar. Personally, I prefer packed brown sugar, but experiment to see which gives you the best results. I also make sure to add a dollop of butter to my pasta sauce.

Worcestershire is packed with glutamates, an amino acid that triggers the taste of umami. Foods that are rich in umami will taste intensely savory. Other high-glutamate foods include Parmesan cheese, mushrooms, and soy sauce. They too can be used to balance a sauce and provide a savory kick.

Add jarred sauce to a pan of onions and garlic.

Sean Ferraro, chef and owner of Madison Avenue Pizza, said he recommends using onions and garlic to "add depth and flavor to the sauce" and a "hint of sweetness."

You can also add a grated carrot to a pot of long simmered sauce, since carrots are naturally sweet. Assuming the question refers to a simple tomato sauce served with long pasta, it shouldn't need sugar if you use sweet ripe tomatoes or good quality canned tomatoes.

Nutritionist Lisa Richards told the outlet that some fresh lemon juice or bottled vinegar should brighten up the sauce, and recommends gently heating the sauce, adding the juice or vinegar one teaspoon at a time, tasting, and adding more as needed.

When you make home-made tomato sauce with fresh or tinned tomatoes, it can sometimes turn out to be too acidic. Add a little milk to tomato sauce for a sweeter taste to offset the acidity of the tomatoes. This is a well-kept secret amongst Italian grandmothers.