Salsa Pasta

Salsa pasta is inspired by both Mexican and Italian food. While it may seem strange at first, this recipe is actually very similar to traditional spaghetti with bolognese sauce. In fact, Mexican food is one of the most popular for fusion dishes, like Korean tacos, Tex-Mex chili con carne and Mexican-Indian curries.

While this is a no-fuss recipe, it is a bit more nuanced than simply tossing spaghetti with salsa. Here, diced tomatoes and tomato paste are simmered with salsa for a truly fusion meal suitable for yourself, your family or a casual dinner with friends.

Ingredients for Salsa Pasta

• Beef: Using ground beef in this salsa pasta allows the sauce to evenly coat the meat.
• Diced tomatoes: Due to their meaty texture and balanced flavor, canned San Marzano tomatoes are the top pick for sauces.
• Salsa: While you can use your favorite jarred salsa, using homemade salsa adds an extra fresh flavor to this dish.
• Tomato paste: A little tomato paste goes a long way, but this ingredient helps to smooth the texture of the sauce.
• Cumin: A classic seasoning in Mexican cuisine, cumin adds a hint of savory, smoky flavor.
• Garlic salt or garlic powder: Instead of the intensity that raw garlic brings, garlic powder blends easily into a dish.
• Oregano: Both Mediterranean and Mexican oregano are popular, but the latter tends to have a more fresh, citrus-like flavor.
• Spaghetti: As one of the most popular pasta shapes, spaghetti pairs well with thin or brothy sauces.
• Cilantro: Because this dish is a play on both Mexican and Italian cuisine, we use minced cilantro instead of basil.

Directions

Step 1: Make the sauce

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In a saucepan, cook the ground beef over medium heat until it’s no longer pink. Drain the excess liquid, and stir in the tomatoes, salsa, tomato paste, cumin, garlic salt, salt and oregano. Bring the sauce to a boil. Once the sauce reaches a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes.

Step 2: Boil the pasta and serve

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Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Place a portion of pasta on each dish, and ladle the sauce over top, then sprinkle it with cilantro.

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Salsa Pasta Variations

• Toss in a veg: If you want to give this salsa spaghetti more texture and flavor, consider adding sauteed zucchini, grilled corn or wilted spinach.
• Add chiles to the sauce: Chiles are native to Mexico, so it’s no wonder Mexican cuisine uses them frequently. To extract a chile’s flavor while making it easy to pluck out when finished, place a whole dried chile into the sauce as it simmers.

How to Store Salsa Pasta

To store any leftover spaghetti and salsa, allow it to come to room temperature and transfer it to an airtight container. Keep it in the fridge for up to four days. To reheat this dish, you can pop it in the microwave or heat it over medium on the stove.

Can I freeze salsa with pasta?

Once this dish has come to room temperature, place it in an airtight container and make sure the spaghetti is evenly coated with the sauce. Store it in the freezer for up to four months. To thaw salsa spaghetti, the safest and easiest way is to place it in the fridge overnight.

Salsa Pasta Tips

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What can I add to salsa to make it taste better?

When it comes to salsa (or really, any dish) it’s good to think in terms of the five main flavors: salty, sweet, sour, savory and bitter. Does it taste a little plain? Maybe a squeeze of lime could brighten things up. Or does it taste too salty? A pinch of sugar can balance it out.

What’s the secret to good spaghetti?

Although this is a topic of much debate, we suggest salting your pasta water. This is because as it cooks, the pasta can evenly absorb the flavor of the salt, and the salt also helps prevent the pasta from becoming sticky.

What not to do when making spaghetti?

When it comes to cooking different pasta shapes, many of the same rules apply. That said, spaghetti and other long, thin varieties of pasta are especially prone to sticking. To avoid this, stir the pasta as it’s cooking.