apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


Weeknight Meal Tip: Ways to Doctor Jarred Tomato Sauce to Add More Flavor

2008_12_10-JarredTomatoSauce.jpgQuick meals are a must during the busy holiday season, and we definitely turn to the grocery store for some help. Having a jar of pre-made tomato sauce on hand to pour over a bowl of pasta can be a life-saver when we're tired and cranky! Here are a few tips on adding more flavor to this simple meal:

 
 

For doctoring purposes, we recommend heating up the tomato sauce in a pan on the stove. It doesn't take much longer than in the microwave and allows you do make some tasty additions to the sauce!

Ways to Add More Flavor to Jarred Tomato Sauce:

1. Add meat and/or veggies: If you have just a little time, try sautéing some onions or crumbled sausage in a little bit of olive oil before adding the sauce. Some minced garlic will also add a good boost of flavor.
2. Add fresh or dried herbs: Jarred tomato sauce can be pretty bland, and a few teaspoons of oregano, thyme, or basil go a long way toward making this sauce taste good!
3. Add some zing: Try a few shots of Tabasco or a pinch of red pepper flakes!
4. Add salt: Most pre-made sauces will play it safe with the salt and end up tasting watered down or bitter. Try adding one teaspoon of salt at a time, tasting in between each addition, until the flavors start to come together.
5. Simmer: If you have the time, let the sauce simmer on the stove for 10 - 20 minutes to cook it down and concentrate the flavors.
6. Add some pasta water: A few scoops of the starchy water left from cooking the pasta will literally pull a soupy sauce together and give it a silky texture.
7. Add dairy: Just before serving, throw a half cup of cream, milk, or ricotta cheese into the sauce. This adds richness and flavor.
8. Add cheese: The ultimate cure-all! Some freshly-grated Parmesan on top of a bowl of pasta transforms it into a tasty and satisfying dish.

What other tricks do you have for doctoring up a jar of store-bought tomato sauce?

Related: Recipe: Basic Tomato Sauce (with Optional Zing!)

(Image: Flickr member Subspace licensed under Creative Commons)

Tags

Tips & Techniques, Ingredients - Pantry, meal helper, pasta sauce, tomato sauce, jarred tomato sauce, store-bought sauce

Share

Comments (21)

I would take a close look at the ingredients before adding salt. Most jarred pasta sauces are very, very heavy on the sodium. If the flavor is watered down, squeeze some tomato paste out of one of those handy tubes for some added richness.

posted by Jezebella on December 10th 2008 at 3:07pm
view Jezebella's profile

Mushrooms are a big one for me. But TJ's Bolognase is darned good all by itself.

posted by Tiamat_the_Red on December 10th 2008 at 3:08pm
view Tiamat_the_Red's profile

Sometimes, I add chicken or beef boullion/broth, or some Balsamic vinegar or red wine.

posted by ronzorelli on December 10th 2008 at 3:10pm
view ronzorelli's profile

I like to add mushrooms and a little ground lamb. Plus WINE! Wine definitely makes a difference—pour a cup or two and let it simmer for 15 or 20 minutes.

posted by mgood on December 10th 2008 at 3:11pm
view mgood's profile

Jez's comment about the added tomato paste is also a good option. Tightens the sauce up and gives it a luciousness that is to die for.

posted by ronzorelli on December 10th 2008 at 3:13pm
view ronzorelli's profile

A little knob of Boursin cheese!

posted by pomme on December 10th 2008 at 3:18pm
view pomme's profile

If you have the time, add a parmesan rind while it simmers down.

posted by rosebud on December 10th 2008 at 3:58pm
view rosebud's profile

Capers on top help a lot too.

posted by blackholly on December 10th 2008 at 4:05pm
view blackholly's profile

Fake a puttenesca with some black olive slices, capers, and red pepper flakes. Or just stir in olivada if you've got it. I don't eat fish but I suppose on this theme--anchovy paste from a tube.

posted by cmcinnyc on December 10th 2008 at 4:17pm
view cmcinnyc's profile

A tablespoon of sugar helps a lot.

posted by hyperRevue on December 10th 2008 at 4:17pm
view hyperRevue's profile

I feel like if you have the time to do most the the above you have the time to open a can of diced tomatoes and do a from scratch sauce. Saute some sausage, garlic and onions, toss in a can of tomatoes, simmer, then add a splash of wine or balsamic at the end.

Then again, I'm picky about added salt and sugar (which most jarred sauce has), plus something in jarred sauce usually makes me break out (I'm looking at you, dried oregano!).

posted by Squirrely on December 10th 2008 at 4:18pm
view Squirrely's profile

Sometimes I reduce a cup or so of Sauvignon Blanc before heating the sauce.

Does sausage really need oil for sautéing? Doesn't it have enough fat already??

posted by Plaid Ninja on December 10th 2008 at 4:59pm
view Plaid Ninja's profile

Tomato based jarred sauces get a shot of clam juice.

posted by LongIslandFoodie on December 10th 2008 at 6:28pm
view LongIslandFoodie's profile

I usually saute up an onion and then add the sauce. I always pour about a cup of wine in the jar and swish it around to get everything that sticks to the jar. I pour this into the sauce and let simmer.

posted by Mrs Olkid on December 10th 2008 at 6:42pm
view Mrs Olkid's profile

I learned a quick tip from Giada - dump the sauce into the pan, then pour some wine into the jar (I usually do about 1/5 the jar). Screw the lid back on, shake, and pour into the pot - you add flavor and rinse any remaining sauce out of the jar and into your dish.

posted by elmcclell on December 10th 2008 at 7:09pm
view elmcclell's profile

I second the comment about sugar. It helps to balance the acidity of most store-bought sauces, and brings out the sweetness of the tomato flavor.

posted by mabills on December 10th 2008 at 8:41pm
view mabills's profile

Since discovering 101cookbooks five minute tomato sauce, I'll never use jarred again

http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/five-minute-tomato-sauce-recipe.html

posted by VeryDelishVeg on December 10th 2008 at 11:48pm
view VeryDelishVeg's profile

I agree with (a) cooking down to concentrate, (b) adding wine, and (c) adding some Frank's Red Hot sauce, much better than adding Tabasco. Another trick I learned was adding some Trader Joe's Black Pepper sauce. I bought it to use in Asian dishes, it's this really thick, black, gooey stuff that's mostly black pepper, garlic and soy sauce. Used in moderation, it adds depth of flavor to jar sauces. And it's vegetarian, unlike some other Asian-flavored sauces. I don't know if it has another name, but that's what TJ's calls it.

posted by itsakitty on December 11th 2008 at 2:17am
view itsakitty's profile

I always add a splash of soy sauce to my tomato sauces, gives it a rich meaty flavour :)

posted by welsh_gal on December 11th 2008 at 6:15am
view welsh_gal's profile

Clams, especially when you need an iron boost.

posted by Kate (NC) on December 11th 2008 at 6:31pm
view Kate (NC)'s profile

Roasted red peppers (from a jar) add lots of flavor.

posted by jesster on December 16th 2008 at 10:27pm
view jesster's profile