The Story Behind My Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Made From Scratch, Made With Love

Some recipes become special because they start with a simple idea: “I can make this myself.”

That’s how my homemade spaghetti sauce came to life.

I wanted a sauce that was flavorful, fresh, and made in my own kitchen—not something that came straight from a jar. I combined tomatoes with garlic, onion, colorful peppers, basil, oregano, and my favorite seasonings to create a sauce that would bring homemade flavor to a simple plate of pasta.

The result became one of my favorite ways to make spaghetti from scratch.

I recently used this sauce to make my Homemade Chicken Spaghetti, combining it with seasoned chicken and spaghetti and finishing it with Parmesan cheese. 🍝❤️

What I love about this sauce is that it doesn’t need to be complicated. Simple ingredients, cooked together with care, can create an incredible meal.

This isn’t a dipping sauce.

This is my homemade spaghetti sauce—the kind of sauce I make in my kitchen when I want a comforting, flavorful meal made from scratch.

And now I’m sharing it with you. ❤️

🇵🇷 From my kitchen to yours, with a little Picante y Sabor.

— Chef Lygdda
Picante y Sabor Food

Ingredients

• 1–2 tsp olive oil
• ½ white onion, chopped
• 1 cup mixed red, yellow & orange mini bell peppers, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• ½ cup fresh basil
• ¼ tsp red chili flakes, optional
• 1 can tomato purée
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp salt, or to taste
• 1 tsp sugar, optional

Instructions

1. Sauté the vegetables:
   In a deep pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and mixed bell peppers. Sauté until the vegetables begin to soften, about 3–5 minutes.
2. Add the garlic and herbs:
   Add the garlic, parsley, oregano, basil, and red chili flakes. Stir and cook for about 1–2 minutes, allowing the garlic and herbs to become fragrant.
3. Add the tomatoes:
   Stir in the tomato purée and tomato paste. Mix everything together until well combined.
4. Season:
   Add the black pepper and salt. If the tomatoes taste acidic, add the optional 1 tsp of sugar.
5. Simmer:
   Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the salsa simmer for about 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows the flavors to come together and the sauce to thicken.
6. Blend if desired:
   For a smoother salsa, use an immersion blender or carefully transfer the mixture to a blender and blend until you reach your preferred consistency. For a chunkier salsa, leave it as is.
7. Taste and adjust:
   Taste and adjust the salt, pepper, or chili flakes as needed.

🍝 Chef Lygdda’s Tip

This homemade salsa is so versatile! Use it as a base for chicken spaghetti, pasta dishes, chicken, meat, rice, or anywhere you want a homemade tomato sauce with lots of flavor.

For the chicken spaghetti: Toss the finished salsa with cooked spaghetti and seasoned cooked chicken, then top with Parmesan cheese. ❤️🇵🇷