Saucing it Up: A Guide to Delicious Italian Sauces and How to Use Them

Italy is said to be the heaven of pastas and pizzas, and Italian cuisine diversifies further with Italian sauces that satisfy your taste buds like nothing else will. Italian sauces are an integral part of Italian cuisine and are known for their rich and flavorful taste. These sauces are made from a variety of ingredients, such as tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, herbs, cheese, and meat. They can either be used as pasta sauces or either used to complement a wide range of dishes, including pasta, pizza, meat, and fish. 

Italian cuisine is renowned for its use of fresh, high-quality ingredients, and the sauces are no exception. The different types of Italian sauces, such as tomato-based marinara, meaty bolognese, creamy alfredo, and pesto, are known for their unique flavours and are an essential part of Italian cooking.

Italian sauces are a great way to add flavour, moisture, and texture to your dishes. They're also easy to make at home using simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. Read on to know about the history of Italian sauces and popular varieties such as Marinara sauce, Pesto, and Alfredo sauce. Understand how to make Italian sauces so that no matter what kind of meal you're making or what kind of dish you're preparing - from pizza to pasta - you'll always know which Italian sauce would be best for it!

Types of Italian Sauces

With the variety of flavour that the Italian cuisine has to offer to the world, there are bound to be many different types of Italian sauces that have come into use. The most common is tomato sauce, but there are also cream-based and pesto sauces. 

Tomato sauces are the backbone of Italian cuisine. The Tomato is a fruit that is freshly grown in the San Marzano region of Italy, and is widely used if you’re looking to learn especially about how to make authentic Italian sauces. It has a rich flavour that pairs well with other ingredients and makes for an easy base sauce that can be used on its own or as part of another sauce recipe. 

Marinara

Marinara is a fresh pasta sauce that has a rich history in Italian cuisine, and its origins can be traced back to the 16th century in Naples, Italy. It was originally made with tomatoes, garlic, oil, and herbs and was served with seafood. The sauce got its name from the Italian word "marinaro," which means "sailor." It was said that Neapolitan sailors would prepare this sauce on their ships using the canned tomatoes they had onboard.

Today, marinara sauce is enjoyed worldwide and has become a staple in many Italian dishes, especially as dips and sauces. It is a quick and easy sauce to make and can be paired with many different types of pasta, including spaghetti, penne, or linguine. It also pairs well with seafood, meatballs, or vegetables, as pizza toppings, or as a dip with your sandwiches, fries, or other munchies.

Tomato Sauce

If you want to get a taste of authentic Italian Marinara flavour at home, our All Purpose Tomato Sauce is a super versatile kitchen essential to have. Made using the juiciest Tomatoes, Olive Oil, Parsley, Celery and Carrots, our Tomato Sauce has a taste unlike any other in the country and leaves a spicy aftertaste. If you’re looking to order sauce online, this one is perfect to stir into your fresh pasta or spread on our pizza bases and will give you an authentic taste of Italy in every spoonful.

You can make pasta at home or order our Penne Rigate that pairs perfectly with medium-thick sauces like a spicy Arrabiata sauce or Marinara pasta sauce.

Penne Rigate 

Bolognese

Bolognese pasta sauce is a rich and meaty sauce that originates from the city of Bologna in northern Italy. It is typically made with ground beef or a mixture of ground beef and pork, onions, celery, carrots, tomato paste, canned tomatoes, and red wine. The sauce is slowly simmered for several hours to develop its depth of flavour.

The origins of Bolognese sauce can be traced back to the 18th century in Bologna, where it was known as ragù alla Bolognese. Originally, the sauce was made with leftover meat from the previous day's roast and served over pasta. Over time, the recipe evolved to include ground meat, vegetables, and tomatoes. Bolognese pasta sauce pairs well with pasta dishes such as tagliatelle, fettuccine, pappardelle, or spaghetti. 

Spaghetti

You can make fresh pasta spaghetti at home or order our Spaghetti Originale which is often consumed with fresh basil and pairs well with any sauce.

Alfredo

Alfredo pasta sauce is made with butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese. It's delicious over pasta or as a dip for breadsticks. 

It is believed to have originated in Rome, Italy, in the early 20th century. The sauce was created by Alfredo di Lelio, who owned a restaurant in Rome called "Alfredo alla Scrofa." He made the sauce for his pregnant wife, who was having trouble keeping food down. The sauce was a hit with his customers, and soon became a popular dish in his restaurant.

The original recipe for Alfredo sauce consisted of just butter and Parmesan cheese, but over time, cream was added to make it even creamier. Today, Alfredo sauce is made with heavy cream, butter, Parmesan cheese, and sometimes garlic.

Fettuccine

Alfredo sauce is best served with fettuccine pasta, which you can order online to thoroughly complete your pasta dish. Our Fettuccine pasta is used widely in Roman and Tuscan cuisine. It pairs well with chicken, shrimp, and broccoli. You can also add other ingredients to the sauce, such as sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, or mushrooms, to give it a more complex flavour.

Pesto sauce

It combines basil pesto with cream for another rich option that can be used in place of traditional Alfredo on your favourite dishes at home. Pesto pasta sauces are a great way to add flavour to your pasta dishes. They can be made with a variety of ingredients, including traditional basil pesto and spinach pesto. 

Pesto Sauce

Our Pesto sauce comes in a unique combo of Basil Seed Pesto and Sundried Tomatoes Pesto. This Pesto Besto Combo is handcrafted with authentic Italian ingredients, traditional recipes and a whole lot of amore. 

Aren’t you tempted to create your own recipe and enhance your meals? Our authentic Italian pasta sauces which are nonna approved and available to order online will make your Italian cuisine wishes come true. 

Make an Italian-inspired meal from scratch by using one of these delicious sauces that we have to offer on our website and channel your chef-instinct. 

Follow us on @sorrentina_honestlyitalian to learn more about all things that are ‘honestly Italian’.

Also Read - Channel Your Inner Virtuoso And Make Pasta From Scratch

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