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I keep an emergency jar of marinara for days when I only have the energy to boil water. Thankfully, a plain jar of tomato sauce can easily be dressed up with whatever you have on-hand. Be warned: your creation may not impress your Italian grandmother, but the results are very satisfying.
Here are a few of my favorite ways to elevate simple jar of sauce:
Oil, garlic, and onion: Even the barest pantry generally has these staples. Saut some fresh garlic, onion, and olive oil, then dump in your sauce and simmer for several moments. Fresh or dried herbs and spices : Yes, jar sauce already has all the basic seasonings. But simmering spaghetti sauce with a sprinkle of oregano, basil, red pepper flakesor anything else you have on handmakes a difference.
Fresh or frozen veggies : A veggie-loaded sauce does double duty. First, you get a well-balance meal. Second, it bulks up the dish and makes me feel satisfied with a single two-ounce serving of pasta. Typically, I saut mushrooms, peppers, or zucchini in a pan with garlic before adding my sauce. However, you can do this with any veggie you have on-hand, like spinach or kale.
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Protein: Defrost that packet of ground beef and brown it in a pan before combining it with sauce. If you don't eat meat, this method works with tofu or plant-based "meats."