Spaghetti sauce…we all have a jar or two in our pantry, right? And if you aren’t looking into a full cupboard right now, then I feel you. In fact, jars of spaghetti sauce are an item that are very often included in a food bank box. If you’re in that situation right now, then I want to reassure you of some things.
First of all, spaghetti sauce is very nutritious. Some varieties are even healthier than others, but the base of cooked tomatoes is a very healthful food for your family! And, we’re going to discuss some easy ways that you can use spaghetti sauce to make meals beyond just what we automatically think of – spaghetti!
Saucy Buns or Subs
Yeah, I know…that recipe title has me sort of chuckling too! But, basically you can make all sorts of delicious meals with spaghetti sauce as the base, then add whatever you can and serve it on whatever type of bread you currently have. You can use any type of buns, or you can use slices of bread or baguettes.
Here are ideas of what to cook up for your saucy buns meal:
- Veggie style: Sautee veggies and onions, or mushrooms. Greens like kale or spinach would be lovely in this too! Once you have a base of cooked veggies, then stir in your jar of spaghetti sauce. At this point you can add in extra seasonings like garlic powder or Italian herb mix. Spoon over some veggie sauce onto your sliced bread or buns. If you have some cheese – mozzarella, cheddar, or parmesan – then grate some of that over top. And of course hot sauce will add a punch of heat and flavour too!
- Sausage sauce: Slice sausages into a heated pan, and stir to cook. If you have an onion or pepper, this will be a wonderful addition. Once cooked through, add the jar of sauce and some seasonings. Pour a bit over each piece of bread. Top with cheese if you have it.
Spaghetti Sauce Soup
You heard it here first! You can use your jar or can of spaghetti sauce to be a base for a delicious soup. Saute up and veggies and protein that you have in a little oil. Add the jar of sauce, and lots of extra seasoning! (I’m looking directly at you garlic. Oh, how I love some garlic…)
Then, thin out the mixture by adding low sodium stock if you have it. Or, add cups of water until the soup is the consistency you like, and add stock cubes if you have them. Stock cubes tend to be a lot cheaper than tetra packs of broth or stock, so I try to keep them on hand.
Simmer the soup to allow all the flavours to combine, and then serve up in bowls with whatever type of crackers or bread you have on hand on the side. Hot sauce is a must for drizzling on top! If you have fresh herbs like basil or parsley growing in the garden – by all means, snip some of those over top too!
Spaghetti Sauce with Eggs (Our Super Easy version of Shakshuka)
Sounds weird, right? It can be sublime, this combination of spaghetti sauce and eggs! Basically, I’m taking the idea of shakshuka and making it easy for all of us to make. Shakshuka is a North African dish of simmering tomato sauce with garlic, peppers and onions. Then, eggs are gently poached in that delicious sauce.
So, our way of making Spaghetti Sauce with Eggs is: Start by simmering whatever veggies you have on hand, such as onions and peppers. Add lots of freshly crushed garlic after the onions and peppers have cooked a bit. (Adding minced fresh garlic to a hot pan too early on can burn it.) If you don’t have fresh garlic, no fear! You can add a little garlic powder later on when we add the sauce in.
Then, add the spaghetti sauce in, stirring to combine it with the lovely cooked veggies and garlic. Add extra herbs and seasonings at this point, and also the garlic powder if that’s what you’re using. Hot sauce is a must if you love heat! You can add it both to the sauce itself AND later on to drizzle on top of the eggs. Yummy!
Now, add your eggs: Crack an egg and gently place the uncooked egg (without shell of course) onto the sauce. Arrange the placement of the eggs so that you can fit all the eggs into the saute pan/frypan that you’re using. You’ll want one egg per person that you’re feeding. Cover the pan with a tight fitting lid, and turn the heat to about medium or a little lower. You want the sauce to gently simmer and poach the eggs.
Cook until the eggs are the right doneness for you – I like my yolks pretty hard, but some people love runny yolks. It’s up to you, the chef! Serve in bowls with a ladleful of sauce AND a beautifully poached egg on the top. Serve with slices of bread.
Spaghetti Sauce as a Dunker for Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
You might not have any tomato soup on hand, but if you have the makings of a grilled cheese sandwich then you can still have a rich, tomatoey side for your gorgeous lunch.
Simply heat up a small dish of your spaghetti sauce in the microwave – a tiny bowl will work well, something with enough space for you to fit your triangles of sandwich in to dip. Add a little hot sauce or fresh herbs to make the sauce taste even yummier.
Heat in 30 second spurts in the microwave, and remove once hot. Cut your hot grilled cheese sandwich into triangles, and dip into your luxurious ‘dipping sauce!’ It makes a wonderful combo if you ask me. 🙂
This option will leave you with a LOT of leftover spaghetti sauce from that jar, so you can freeze that leftover sauce! Spaghetti sauce freezes just fine as long as it is indeed a tomato-based sauce, and not a cream-based one. Make sure to label your baggies or containers so you won’t have a mystery to face when you find that container later on!
Tofu or Chickpeas simmered in Sauce
And finally, a wonderful purely vegan option for you! Simmer your jar of spaghetti sauce in a pan, and then add in chunks of extra-firm tofu or a can of rinsed chickpeas. You can eat this straight up as it is, or you can have it over rice. It is a simple and wholesome meal.
Conclusion
One jar of spaghetti sauce is a mighty ingredient in your hands! You can use it to make a luxurious dip for a grilled cheese, or to make easy Shakshuka or even a wholesome and yummy soup for your family.