What could have made this recipe better

16 years ago

I made this last night with cajun sausage. I sliced it into coins and browned it good. I didn't care for the Italian Seasoning so only used 1 tablespoon. I wanted a sliced green pepper in it, but the grocery store had NONE!Grrrr

It was just too "tomato-ey" and with the Italian Seasoning tasted like spagetti sauce to me. It was just *ok*

Spicy Tomato Sauce with Sausage

ingredients

a.. 1/2 pound sliced Cajun smoked sausage

b.. 1/2 cup finely chopped onion

c.. 2 teaspoons minced garlic

d.. 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

e.. 1 1/2 tablespoons Italian Seasoning Mix

f.. 1 (28-oz.) can crushed tomatoes

g.. 1 (8-oz.) can Spanish-style tomato sauce

h.. 1 teaspoon kosher salt

i.. 1 teaspoon honey

Preparation

1. Cook sausage in a 3-qt. saucepan over medium heat 5 to 6 minutes or until

browned. Drain; return to pan.

2. SautÃ© onion and garlic in hot oil in saucepan over medium heat 2 to 3

minutes or until tender. Stir in Italian Seasoning Mix, and cook 1 minute.

Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and 1 cup water; bring to a boil,

stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 40 to 45 minutes or

slightly thickened. Stir in salt and honey.

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Comments (8)

hayjud_mn
16 years ago
Connie,
I think Itallian seasoning sounds out of place too. I really don't do anything with Cajun, but my first thought would be change the Itallian to Cumin and Chilli powder. If the sausage is already spicy, then maybe cumin and sweet basil.
Yep! I'd like green peppers in there to!

When something seems to "tomatoie" I tend to add some beef boullion or that browning sauce that comes in that little bottle and lasts at least ten years! I have an off brand right now, so I don't remember the original brand/name. That usually calms down the tomato for me.
anne_ct
16 years ago
My experience has shown that adding either/or...or both...of about 1/4 tsp grated orange rind [fresh or dried] and a finely chopped medium sized carrot to the mixture while it simmers for the 40-45 minutes does the trick. Both of these ingredients tend to reduce the acid content of these types of sauces as well as adding a "softer" flavor to any type of tomato sauce.

HTH

Anne
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nodakgal
Original Author
16 years ago
Kitchen Bouquet Judy? I wouldn't have thought of that but I bet a dab would be good in it. BTW, a bottle doesn't last me that long! LOL I put it in gravy and soups and stews and steak and gravy and lots of things.

Anne, thank you I am filing that away for future use. I had no clue!
hayjud_mn
16 years ago
That's what I was trying to think of!

Anne, Carrots I use often. I even put them in chilli, cause I love to get those veggies into everything. The orange peel is one that is a BIG surprise to me!
anne_ct
16 years ago
I've used grated orange peel for eons. It seems to take that slightly bitter edge off of many culinary items...sauces, soups, fish dishes, mixed salads...like tuna salad, salad dressings...on and on and on. ;-) The odd thing...if you munch on peel as it comes off the orange...it's bitter. But cooked in a dish...that bitterness disappears.

A spice that I often add to tomato/beef based sauces that you might want to try...is nutmeg. It only takes a pinch...but it adds something special to the flavor.

Anne
wildchild
16 years ago
This poor recipe has a major identity crisis. It can't decide what it wants to be. Italian,Cajun or Spanish. LOL

I would leave out the seasoning mix. Add more garlic,bell peppers and some hot pepper sauce.

Actually I would forget the recipe and just serve the sausage alongside red beans and rice.
jannie
16 years ago
I don't like mixing Italian and Mexican spices. One or the other. I like to make Zatarain's red beans and rice and add a sliced kielbasa Polish sausage. That's as close as I can get here to Andouille sausage.
nodakgal
Original Author
16 years ago
Oh yes, our store didn't have spanish tomato sauce, I used regular.
I did look for Zatarain's Jambalayia (sp) and guess what? Our sad excuse for a grocery store was OUT of that too Jannie!
I think I was doomed to fail! lol

What could have made this recipe better

Comments (8)

hayjud_mn

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What could have made this recipe better

Comments (8)

hayjud_mn

anne_ct

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