this post was submitted on 27 Mar 2026
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Yeah, just the title. Feels good

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[–] DarkSpectrum@lemmy.world 15 points 1 day ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (4 children)

Thanks all for the positive comments!

The recipe I used last night was:

  • 1/2 white onion finely chopped
  • 1 red capsicum / pepper chopped to small pieces
  • 3 colves of garlic finely chopped
  • 1 x whole carrot finely shredded
  • 1\4 cup sliced black olives
  • 2 x whole red chillis finely chopped
  • 2 tbl spoons of mixed Italian herbs
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 x jars of pasta sauce, any one you like. I'm not at the homemade level yet!
  • 1 x small jar anchovies
  • 500g beef mince or Spanish chorizo sausage
  • 1 tblsp oil

Basic Steps: Cook the vegies in the oil, start with the capsicum/pepper, onion and olives then add the carrot, garlic and chillis once other veg is mostly cooked. Once all cooked, set veggies aside.

Cook mince or chorizo, once cooked add veggies, jars of pasta sauce, Italian herbs, ground pepper, anchovies (cut up with scissors) and mix together.

Add 1 cup of salted water from the water used to cook the pasta, stir and let simmer on low heat for 5 mins.

Serve on top of spag noodles, don't mix together! I add about 50g of butter to the noodles to stop them sticking and for taste. Add grated parmesan and chili flakes to taste.

Enjoy!

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Sounds like you might be at the homemade level... Just buy canned tomatoes instead of the sauce, I think you might be surprised. The rest of your recipe is pretty complete.

[–] ickplant@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I believe you would have to cook the tomatoes though as that’s the whole point of marinara and similar sauces. So canned tomatoes but simmer them for a while, maybe?

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

that's pretty much grumpa's recipe for a 10 minute sauce that no one believes i didn't stew the tomatoes all day and then strain them

[–] ickplant@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I usually add butter and half an onion (literally cut in half, I take it out at the end). I learned that from an old NYT recipe. Amazing flavor.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 23 hours ago) (1 children)

saute your meat first, add as many of your spices to it as you can (the oregano, the garlics, the basil, the aniseed (only use a pinch but this is the secret ingredient. i tried subbing fennel and it'll work in a pinch, but aniseed is better). we usually use ground beef or hot italian sausage, whatever's cheap. maybe add the garlic a little later in the saute so it doesn't burn but the fats from the meat should protect it). here's where i'd do the onion and butter if i was adding them (and my wife's variation does and it's great, but it's not my version)

when the meat is browned, deglaze the pan with some red wine. (like what, a 1/4 cup? a splash? i don't know. i'm not an expert. deglaze it). once that's done, pour in your passata/tomato sauce.

add your bay leaf to the tomato, let the tomato sauce come up to a simmer. taste the sauce, adjust the spices. it's about where you want it.

your salt should come from your pasta water. about halfway through boiling your pasta there should be enough starch in the water. that helps the sauce bind to the noodles better. add 1/4 to 1/2 of the pasta water to your sauce.

when your noodle is almost al dente but not quite, add the noodle to the sauce. let it finish cooking in the tomato sauce. it will cook slower and be easier to get to the perfect al dente

i think i didn't forget anything but the measurements but you just figure out what those are with trial and error.

i like experimenting with peppers. my staple ground peppers are white, black, paprika and cayenne. i also always have red pepper flakes in every room in the house for pizzamergencies, so like which peppers we add is a mood thing. also been experimenting with using multiple types and preparations of garlic to see if i can get different depths of flavor from it.

Edit you know what I get asked how to cook this sauce often enough I really should save this somewhere

[–] ickplant@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Oooh, thank you!

And I really like experimenting with peppers too! White pepper is currently my fave (can’t have chicken wings without it).

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 3 points 23 hours ago

I like how white pepper disappears so we use it in our lemon butter

[–] Bloomcole@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Plenty american recipes: 1 can of brand x prefab product, mix with 1 box of brand y prefab product, add brand z spice mix.
throw some parsley over it, and there you have a delicious homecooked meal!

[–] theorychapter@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 day ago (2 children)

1 tbl oil

A whole table of oil?!

[–] DarkSpectrum@lemmy.world 3 points 13 hours ago

Preferably a 12 seater

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

yeah that's how you refer to them

[–] mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca 2 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

not really, there is no standardized size of table for measurements like this

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 22 hours ago

dammit i forgot where i was

[–] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 day ago

Try using ground Italian sausage instead of hamburger sometime. Adds a lot more to the flavor profile.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

i might disagree with you on being ready to do it by scratch. grab some passata or some cans of unseasoned tomato sauce to make it easy. premixed italian seasoning is just basil, oregano, garlic, salt, pepper. as long as you don't oversalt you can pretty much just eyeball it

[–] TheTechnician27@lemmy.world 39 points 1 day ago

Knees strong.

Arms airy.

Dad's spaghetti.

Congratulations, OP. That's quality parenting.

[–] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 11 points 1 day ago

Conversely, I made my usual crappy spaghetti and my teenage son still had thirds. I blame the teenage part.

[–] owenfromcanada@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 day ago

Damn son, kids enjoying your food is a high that keeps me going all week. I once made fried rice and my daughter loved it, felt like dad of the year.

[–] tangeli@piefed.social 18 points 1 day ago (1 children)

When my mother left, my father really didn't know how to cook. He did his best but some dinners weren't so good. We got used to the 'nutty' taste of burnt chicken and potatoes. Me and my brothers complained all the time. The only compliment he got was when we asked for seconds or thirds. He took it well. I have a very different perspective on it now, years later. I can feel your success. Congratulations!

[–] GreenKnight23@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)

my father was a good cook, was an absolute ass and never cooked. "that's woman's work"

when mom had to start working for us to make ends meet, he was left home to cook dinner for us kids.

one night he made spaghetti. noodles done, but couldn't find any sauce. desperate, he just made his own with whatever we had on hand.

best damn spaghetti I have ever had.

I must have inherited his knack for it. I come up with some wild dishes that actually turn out pretty good. I cook weird comfort foods.

one time I made teriyaki coconut chicken with honeydew and cantaloupe.

we had chicken, and the melons were going bad so I had to use what I could. the coconut was just some coconut milk from a can.

pan seared/cooked the chicken in teriyaki sauce tossed in chunks of melon after they were cooked and let them soften up a bit. and then added about 1/4 can of coconut milk to simmer.

served with white rice. and it was pretty good.

[–] tangeli@piefed.social 7 points 1 day ago

desperate, he just made his own with whatever we had on hand.

I know those circumstances. It's amazing how good it can be with a few simple ingredients and a bit of skill.

[–] TheHighRoad@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

All y'all in here not posting recipes SMH

i'd love to, but my recipe is by eyeball for my family pasta sauce. half of the measurements are measured using [pour into your hand and make a circle about yay big] so like if you're in the SF bay area come over and i can teach you, but it's pretty hard to teach over text.

[–] Townlately@feddit.nl 31 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Hell yeah dude, share that recipe

[–] DarkSpectrum@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago

Have posted the recipe in a comment on the post, enjoy!

[–] Bluefruit@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago

Fr. Can't just drop a post like this and not share.

[–] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 day ago

Boil spaghetti. Add red sauce. Bunch of chez. Make cheesy garlic bread. Throw out spaghetti and just enjoy the cheesy garlic bread.

[–] whelk@retrolemmy.com 4 points 1 day ago

Dude I made a Mexican food casserole the other day for the first time and my firstborn asked me to make it again, best feeling. High five brother

[–] Endymion_Mallorn@kbin.melroy.org 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] DarkSpectrum@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Have posted the recipe in a comment on the OP, enjoy!

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 day ago
[–] prettybunnys@piefed.social 6 points 1 day ago

Spaghet à la dad is a cherished recipe in this house.

[–] dumbass@piefed.social 4 points 1 day ago

Thats the equivalent of a Nonna not complaining about your food. Well done!

[–] cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 day ago

You are a god amongst people.

[–] BallShapedMan@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

Good Dad! ⭐

[–] furby@infosec.pub 4 points 1 day ago

Good Dad skills.

[–] drmoodmood@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 day ago

This made me smile. Good job, man. :)