Made a decent pasta sauce with just pantry staples after a snowstorm kept me home in Buffalo

We got hit with a foot of snow last Thursday and I couldn't get to the store. I had a can of crushed tomatoes, some dried oregano, and a half onion rolling around the crisper. Threw it all in a pot with a splash of olive oil and let it simmer for like 20 minutes. It actually came out pretty good over some spaghetti I had on hand. Anyone else got a go-to pantry sauce recipe for when you're stuck at home?

3 comments

3 Comments

faith_thomas19d ago

Notice how being stuck at home forces you to actually use what you have, and that's usually when you figure out something useful. @the_amy's point about garlic powder reminds me that the stuff we ignore in the back of the pantry often saves the day.

the_amy19d ago

Did you put any garlic in there? I always toss in a little garlic powder or dried minced garlic when I'm out of fresh stuff and it makes a huge difference. Sometimes I add a spoonful of the pasta water too if the sauce gets too thick.

logan_ellis19d ago

The 20 minute simmer is actually a smart move. I used to think you needed to let tomato sauce bubble away for an hour or more to get any real flavor, but a few years back I tried a quick sauce just like you described and it changed my mind completely. @the_amy is right about the garlic powder too, I keep a container of that stuff in the pantry for exactly these situations. A little pinch of sugar can help balance the acidity if the tomatoes are too sharp. It's amazing what you can throw together when you have nothing else. I still let it go a little longer if I have the time, but I don't stress about it anymore.