The Great Sugar in Sauce Debate

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

28 Mar 2008 03:54 AM

When fellow foodie and blogger Lisa Pietsch started talking about sauce in the forums, I had no idea that there is actually a debate on whether or not to add sugar to spaghetti sauce. In one corner Lisa and I stand, firm in our non-sugar stance. I've never tasted Lisa's sauce, but it looks divine (don't worry--I'll share the recipe in another blog), and I can tell you that my sugarless sauce is to die for. When we have church potlucks, people call me and ask if I'll bring that.

But then Nikki Goodson (fellow Deals blogger) joined the discussion pointing out that her spouse is Italian and he always adds sugar to his sauces and that sauce, well sauces and Italians go together like fish in the sea. So I became curious as to why you'd add sugar to a sauce and I must say that Nikki's husband is in good company because even Fannie Farmer adds sugar to her spaghetti sauce. So what's the deal?

A little sugar in sauce reduces the acidity to the tomatoes. It's not the only thing you can add however, and as someone who is limiting my sugar intake to my morning coffee, I'm just fine with acidic tomatoes thank you very much. You can also add about a teaspoon of baking soda (per 2 cups of sauce) to reduce acidity or my favorite idea thus far: some grated carrots. Carrots are natural sweeteners and I can tell you that the sneaky mama uses them in some of her food to make it more kid friendly.

So which corner are you in? Do you march to the beat of your own tune and NOT add sugar to your spaghetti sauce? Or do you add sugar to reduce your spaghetti sauce to reduce the acidity of tomatoes.

Valorie Delp shares recipes and kitchen tips in the food blog, solves breastfeeding problems, shares parenting tips, and current research in the baby blog, and insight, resources and ideas as a regular guest blogger in the homeschooling blog. To read more articles by Valorie Delp, click here.

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Learn more about Valorie Delp

Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line.

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Lessly (57396) 28 Mar 2008 08:11 AM

Interesting blog...though I think it depends on the Chef...I was watching the food network with an Italian chef and she didn't use any sugar in her sauces. I guess it depends on your family no matter where you grew up :)

AuntJamelle (125) 09 Jul 2008 08:52 AM

I have done it both ways, with and without, and liked it fine either way.

But if I am going to add sugar, I do prefer the use of Brown Sugar over that of plain white. About 1 Tablespoon or so seems to add a nice touch...