You may sometimes need to thicken your spaghetti sauce, whether you're making your own from scratch or buying it in bottled bottles at the store. There are many ways to thicken a sauce, but some can slightly change the taste or texture. The ingredients and time you have available, as well as the flavor you want to achieve will determine which thickening method you choose. The following guide will help you thicken your spaghetti sauce and there are several methods you can choose from.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Thickening Without Changing Aroma and Flavor
Step 1. Thicken the sauce by simmering on low heat or simmering
Reducing the amount of water in the sauce is the most natural and easy way to thicken spaghetti sauce. Here's how to do it:
- Bring your tomato sauce to a boil, then reduce heat slightly to allow it to simmer on low and open to the desired consistency. Stir frequently to prevent the sauce from burning. This will encourage evaporation of excess water, making the sauce thicker.
- This method doesn't change the taste of the sauce, but it can take more time depending on how much water you want to steam.
Step 2. Add some cornstarch to the spaghetti sauce
The cornstarch mixture is flavorless, so it won't add or change the flavour, but it can change the thickness of the sauce and give it a subtle sheen (and may also slightly reduce the intensity of the flavor.
Mix in equal parts water and cornstarch, stir, then add to sauce. Add a small amount first. Cornstarch is a strong thickening agent, so you may need less than a teaspoon for a large pot of spaghetti sauce
Step 3. Make a roux and add it to the sauce
Melting the butter and adding the flour will make a roux. A roux is a mixture of fat and flour that is heated, and used as a base for sauces. Roux is widely used in French cooking as a thickening agent. Even the roux is the reason why the creamy alfredo sauce can be so thick!
- After making the roux and adding it a little at a time to the spaghetti sauce, you'll need to cook the sauce for at least 30 minutes longer, or you'll notice a grainy, floury texture. You can also cook the roux before adding it to the spaghetti, thus removing the starchy texture from the flour.
- Even with extra cooking time, a roux can change the flavor of your spaghetti sauce, even if it's subtle or subtle.
Step 4. Try adding breadcrumbs
Breadcrumbs work similarly to Roux in that they are basically made of flour, which is a thickening agent. While you may be able to taste the breadcrumbs slightly, they make a great addition to the sauce. The increased thickness of the sauce will be more pronounced than the taste of the breadcrumbs.
Step 5. Finish cooking the spaghetti in the sauce
Boil the spaghetti until it's slightly undercooked (or as it's called, al dente). Drain the spaghetti thoroughly so that no water remains and add the spaghetti to the sauce. Finish simmering the spaghetti until cooked through for a minute or two in its own spaghetti sauce. In this way, the starch from the spaghetti will help thicken the sauce, and also ensure that each strand of your spaghetti is well coated in the sauce.
Method 2 of 2: Thickening with Flavor Enhancers
Step 1. Add the tomato paste
The best time to add the tomato paste is at the beginning, so the spices will soften the taste of the pasta. Tomato paste can also be added later if you need a quick thickening agent.
Step 2. Add grated Parmesan or Romano cheese to thicken the sauce
The grated cheese will help thicken the sauce quickly. The cheese will slightly change the taste of the sauce.
Cheeses such as Parmesan and Romano have a saltier taste and higher salt content. So keep this in mind and consider this when you are going to add salt to your sauce
Step 3. Add heavy cream to make a creamy tomato sauce
This will thicken and completely change the taste and type of spaghetti sauce.
Step 4. Add vegetables to your sauce
Vegetables add more flavor to your sauce and increase its nutrition.
- Traditional Italian chefs or cooks have been known to add grated carrots to spaghetti sauce, but cook until the carrots are soft and mushy. In addition to adding thickness, carrots also help reduce the acidity of the sauce.
- You can puree and sauté the onions and peppers to thicken the sauce, but this will change the taste of the sauce.
- Also try shredding different types of mushrooms into small strands and adding them to the spaghetti sauce for extra thickness and a delicious savory taste.
- Finely sliced eggplant works well too! Be sure to remove the tough, leathery outer shell (as well as the seeds) before tearing it apart and adding it to the sauce.
Step 5. Cook and brown some italian sausage or ground beef and add to the sauce
The taste of meat and tomatoes will blend well if cooked for a long time.
