Does tomato sauce have to be acidic? Is it necessary to add sugar? Top chefs answer this age-old question.
It’s actually very easy to make spaghetti sauce that’s too acidic, even if it’s a last-minute mistake and you don’t have time to go shopping. The opinion of the chefs could clarify our ideas.
sour tomato sauce
The watchword when preparing a tomato sauce is moderation. In case you need to sweeten an acidic tomato sauce for spaghetti , the solution that comes to mind is the most logical: use non-sweet ingredients.
We often add sugar to our tomato sauce to combat the acidity of the tomatoes, but if you are not careful enough you can end up using too much sugar, which will not only make the spaghetti sauce too sweet, but can also harm your health. . .
In fact, there are sugar substitutes to make tomato sauce less acidic. There are a few alternatives to sugar when it comes to making a less acidic tomato sauce, some of which may be easier to moderate than regular sugar.
Not all of them are as effective as sugar and may not give the same flavor to your sauce, but you can try. In the end it’s all a matter of personal taste.
Among the many natural alternatives to sweeten spaghetti sauce without using the famous white grains, there is baking soda capable of attenuating the acidity of tomato sauce by modifying its pH.
In addition to baking soda we also have carrots and potatoes , but also the addition of fresh tomatoes.
Carrots are especially suitable for sweetening the sauce , each of these ingredients can sweeten the acidic sauce, providing that extra flavor that will make our dish more pleasant.
The chefs’ response
The numerous cooking shows, in which a star chef cannot be missing , can shed light on this problem that arises in the kitchen: what to do in the presence of an acidic tomato sauce?
One thing emerged to dispel any doubts: sugar in sauce is really not good! Even five-star chef Bruno Barbieri defined the sugar in the sauce as “Satan!”
While during an episode of Masterchef 11, judge Antonino Cannavacciuolo faked an anxiety attack, so that a competitor tempted by sugar would correct a slightly acidic sauce.
Chef Irina Steccanella also thinks the same and, as an ambassador of the authentic flavors of Emilia-Romagna, sees the sugar in tomato sauce as the Antichrist .
Chef Alessandro Negrini, although he confirms his no to sugar as “sucrose”, could think about correcting the acidity using fructose. In fact, you should choose a tomato that is no longer acidic.
However, it refers to a trick to correct the excessive acidity of the sauce, thanks to a tablespoon of milk or a little butter, but they are tricks to take advantage of in home cooking. Although today the unanimous voice is a resounding no to sugar, our grandmothers used a pinch of it to correct acidity and the result left nothing to be desired.