Do Italians put sugar in spaghetti? Italian spaghetti is no doubt very delicious, the unique taste of the spaghetti can gets you wondering if sugar was added to the recipe.
In some meals like pastries, sugar is an essential ingredient but then is it typical for Italians to put sugar in spaghetti?
No, Italians do not put sugar in spaghetti. However, sometimes sugar is added to the tomato sauce to balance its acidity. The only ingredients Italians add to spaghetti are salt, pepper, and olive oil.
Many people seem to get it all mixed up that Italians put sugar in spaghetti but is really not the case. This post clarifies the misconceptions that Italians put sugar in spaghetti and also explains other related questions.
Do Italians Put Sugar In Spaghetti?
Absolutely not, sugar is not a typical ingredient Italians will put in the spaghetti. Usually, salt, pepper, and olive oil are added to spaghetti to give it a little bit of flavor and taste.
It is quite understandable to think Italian spaghetti contains a good amount of sugar but then traditionally sugar has no business in spaghetti in Italy. Sugar in spaghetti sauce however is practicable.
Southern Italians are known to add sugar to their spaghetti sauce back in the day as it is common for them to use end-of-season raw tomatoes. They use sugar to balance the bitterness and acidity of the tomatoes.
Why Do People Add Sugar In Spaghetti Sauce?
You might have seen a couple of people springing some sugar in their tomato sauce or have tasted an unusual sweetness in spaghetti and you are wondering why sugar has to be added to tomato sauce(spaghetti sauce) at all.
In some cases, sugar is used to reduce the acidity level of the tomato sauce. It helps to balance out the taste and make the sauce more enjoyable. However, it is not usually necessary to put sugar in spaghetti sauce.
But for people who do not appreciate the bitter taste of unripened or canned tomatoes, this is one of the major methods to cut through the acidity and neutralize the taste.
Are There Substitutes For Sugar In Spaghetti Sauce?
The major reason why sugar is added to spaghetti sauce is because of the acidity level of the tomatoes whether canned or raw. For some people the idea of putting sugar in spaghetti sauce, so here are a few alternatives for cutting the acidity of tomato sauce;
1. Carrots
If you are not comfortable with adding sugar to spaghetti sauce, carrots are a more natural ingredient to use. This not only sweetens and cuts the acidity but also thickens and gives the sauce a more complex flavor.
2. Baking Soda
A little bit of baking soda in spaghetti sauce can help reduce the bitter taste of the tomatoes. It can also improve the taste and consistency of the spaghetti sauce.
3. Butter
Another alternative for sugar is melting some butter into the spaghetti sauce. This neutralizes the bitterness and cuts through the acidity of the raw or canned tomato sauce.
How To Cut Down The Sweetness In Spaghetti Sauce
It is possible to make spaghetti sauce to be too sweet, not to worry these quick fixes will come to the rescue;
1 Add More Spice
You can add a little more salt and other spices into the tomato sauce to balance out the sweetness. Make sure you do not add too much spice else it will be a different story. Taste the sauce frequently to know when to stop adding more ingredients.
2. Increase The Quantity
This is one of the most effective ways to tone down the sweetness in spaghetti sauce. adding to the volume or quantity of the sauce will cut reduce the sweetness. Add more canned tomatoes gradually to neutralize the sweetness to your satisfaction.
3. Add Acidity
Lemon juice, lime juice, and vinegar are good sweetness neutralizers and they are easy finds in the kitchen. Have this in mind, a little goes a long way so make sure you do not pour too much into the spaghetti sauce as that will alter the taste.
Bottom Line
Saying that Italians put sugar in the spaghetti is super incorrect, the 3 major ingredients they actually add into spaghetti are salt, pepper, and a substantial amount of olive oil.
However, the southern Italians do add some sugar to spaghetti sauce to reduce the acidity of the tomatoes.
Some people still practice adding sugar to spaghetti sauce but if that’s not fine with you can choose other sweetening agents such as carrots, baking soda, and butter recommended in this article.
