Spicy spaghetti sauce is a variation of traditional spaghetti sauce that includes ingredients to add heat and spice. Here’s a basic recipe to make spicy spaghetti sauce:
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1-2 jalapeño peppers, diced (adjust according to desired spice level)
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust according to desired spice level)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon sugar (optional, to balance the acidity)
- Fresh basil leaves, chopped (for garnish, optional)
Instructions:
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the diced onion, minced garlic, diced bell pepper, and jalapeño peppers to the saucepan. Cook until the vegetables are softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the crushed red pepper flakes, dried oregano, dried basil, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Cook for an additional minute to toast the spices.
- Add the crushed tomatoes and tomato paste to the saucepan. Stir well to combine.
- If using sugar, add it to the sauce to balance the acidity. Stir until dissolved.
- Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer, uncovered, for about 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld together and the sauce to thicken.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Serve the spicy spaghetti sauce over cooked spaghetti noodles or your favorite pasta. Garnish with chopped fresh basil leaves if desired.
Feel free to adjust the spice level to your liking by adding more or less of the spicy ingredients like jalapeños, crushed red pepper flakes, and cayenne pepper. Enjoy your spicy spaghetti sauce!
