How to Improve Jar Spaghetti Sauce With Crushed Tomatoes

By: Taylor DiVico

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Taking a shortcut while cooking spaghetti sauce can make the difference between dining now and later. Jarred sauce does not have to go down in history as the culinary cop-out of your household; instead, it can be a useful component in completing your meal. Such store-bought sauces contains precooked, pureed tomatoes and seasonings. You can use jarred sauce in combination with crushed tomatoes and fresh herbs to add flavor and a thicker consistency, merging homemade Italian cooking with its time-efficient counterpart.

Step 1

Heat olive oil in a saucepan on medium heat. Add minced garlic and chopped onions. Simmer the garlic and onions for about 2 to 3 minutes until softened and browned.

Step 2

Add fresh or jarred crushed tomatoes and 1/2 cup of water. Stir the mixture. Add fresh or dried Italian seasonings, such as basil, rosemary, oregano, sage, crushed red pepper and salt. Pour in the jarred sauce. Stir the mixture.

Step 3

Turn the heat up to high and bring the sauce to a boil for about 10 minutes, stirring the ingredients throughout the boiling time. Lower the heat to low and simmer the ingredients for another 5 to 10 minutes.