Nostalgic Napolitan Spaghetti: A Simple & Delicious Tomato Ketchup Pasta
Sweet, Savory, and Addictive! Easy Napolitan Spaghetti Recipe with Tomato Ketchup
At first, I wondered, ‘Isn’t this just a ketchup mess?’ but now it’s become my go-to comfort food, Napolitan Spaghetti! It’s so simple yet incredibly satisfying, making it hard not to love. While it’s wonderful with just sausages and ketchup, adding your favorite vegetables or any leftover veggies from the fridge can make this pasta dish even more vibrant and delicious. Let’s make some Napolitan Spaghetti together!
Ingredients
- Spaghetti noodles for 2 servings (approx. 160-200g)
- 9 sausages (choose your favorite, like Vienna or frankfurters)
- 1/2 red bell pepper
- 1/2 onion
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
For Boiling the Spaghetti
- 1 Tbsp salt
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
Seasoning Sauce
- 7 Tbsp tomato ketchup (generous amount)
- 1 Tbsp mirin or cooking sake
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp pasta water (water from boiling the noodles)
- 1 Tbsp salt
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
Seasoning Sauce
- 7 Tbsp tomato ketchup (generous amount)
- 1 Tbsp mirin or cooking sake
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp pasta water (water from boiling the noodles)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Fill a pot with plenty of water and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, add 1 tablespoon of coarse salt and 1 tablespoon of olive oil to prevent the pasta from sticking and to add a subtle flavor.
Step 2
When the water is at a rolling boil, add the spaghetti noodles. Cook according to the package instructions, usually around 8 minutes for a nice al dente texture. Before draining, reserve about 2 tablespoons of the pasta water in a small bowl. Then, drain the spaghetti in a colander.
Step 3
While the pasta is cooking, prepare your vegetables and sausages. Slice the onion and bell pepper into 1cm thick pieces. You can slice the sausages or score them with a knife; scoring helps them cook evenly and look more appealing.
Step 4
To ensure a cleaner taste and remove excess grease from the sausages, let’s blanch them. Place a colander over a large bowl and add the sausages. Pour freshly boiled water from an electric kettle over the sausages and let them sit for about 1 minute. Then, rinse the sausages under running water. This step helps wash away impurities and unwanted fats.
Step 5
Clean the pot used for boiling pasta or use a clean frying pan. Wipe the pan with a paper towel, then add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Sauté the prepared onion, bell pepper, and blanched sausages until the vegetables soften slightly. Add the drained spaghetti noodles and the reserved 2 tablespoons of pasta water. Toss everything together to coat the noodles with the vegetable essence.
Step 6
Now, let’s add the flavor! Add 7 tablespoons of tomato ketchup, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon of mirin (or cooking sake). Stir-fry everything over medium heat until well combined and the sauce coats the pasta evenly. Ensure the sauce clings to the noodles as you stir. Feel free to adjust the ketchup or soy sauce to your taste.
Step 7
Once the tomato ketchup and seasonings are well mixed and glossy, coating the spaghetti strands beautifully, your Napolitan Spaghetti is ready! Serve immediately while hot. Enjoy this delightful taste of nostalgia, easily made at home for any occasion!
