Recipes

[Icegoddess]

I've never tried Rao's jarred sauces, but I have tried one of their frozen entrees.  Wasn't impressed, so that quenched my curiosity about their sauces.  I've never seen their meatballs.  

I'll admit that I've never made spaghetti or Alfredo sauce from scratch.  I've also never found a jarred Alfredo that comes close to restaurant Alfredo.  I'll sometimes use them with raviolis, but the flavor profile just isn't as good.  For spaghetti, I like a meat sauce, not meatballs.  I use Bertolli Olive Oil & Garlic sauce and add the cooked ground beef & Italian sausage, mushrooms, black & green olives, and red wine.  

[PA Mom-mom]

@haddon9  and @Calibeach  I buy Rao's marinara at Costco all the time. It can dress up any frozen meatballs - like the Italian style at Costco. When the Rao's is on sale for $8.47 or $9 ish for 2, I buy the limit allowed. Sometimes there is no limit! When I give them to my DD or DIL, they can't stop thanking me. DIL told me it's like Christmas for her. (They have 5 children.)

[Calibeach]

---

@PA Mom-mom wrote:

@haddon9  and @Calibeach  I buy Rao's marinara at Costco all the time. It can dress up any frozen meatballs - like the Italian style at Costco. When the Rao's is on sale for $8.47 or $9 ish for 2, I buy the limit allowed. Sometimes there is no limit! When I give them to my DD or DIL, they can't stop thanking me. DIL told me it's like Christmas for her. (They have 5 children.)

---

@PA Mom-mom It really is the best tasting jarred sauce that is universal for pasta and meatballs. And the Costco larger sized jars when on a coupon sale are the best value. 

[shoptilyadropagain]

I make my own sauce for spaghetti but I did buy a 2-pack at Costco once as I normally use jarred sauce added to mine when making lasagna.  I thought the Rao's was kinda thin and watery looking so I've never purchased it again and opt for less expensive brands.  As I recall, I did taste it by itself and it was OK but was kind of turned off by it being so thin.

[LavernLuvsShoes]

---

@Icegoddess wrote:

I've never tried Rao's jarred sauces...

Me either - The price has kept me from trying it, and I'd hate to be disappointed after paying so much for it.

I ususally buy Ragu, Prego or the (Kroger) store brand and "doctor it up." 

[cindyNC]

Use Rao's mostly as it has the least amount of sugar/salt/carbs for diabetics.  Try to purchase on sale. 

This is the recipe I use for meatballs.  Sometimes I make it half chicken/half beef and I don't always cook it in the sauce before freezing.  When I just fry them on top of the stove, they get a lot bigger when added to the sauce.  And I make mine small enough so that I have 20-24 meatballs. 

PERFECT ITALIAN MEATBALLS

Recipe by Fabio Viviani

Cook time: 25 Minutes

Yield: 8 meatballs

1 lb. ground beef (90/10)

4 oz. whole milk ricotta cheese

1 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated

1 cup panko bread crumbs

1 egg

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 shallots, minced

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

salt & fresh cracked pepper to taste

fresh parsley for garnish

Place all above ingredients in a medium sized bowl and mix thoroughly by hand until they are completely combined and the mixture is uniformly firm.

Coat your hands in olive oil, and using your hands form mixture into 3-4 oz. balls

Drop the meatballs into Fabio's tomato sauce (see recipe here) and add some water so that the sauce can reduce and simmer. Let cook for about 10 minutes on one side.

Turn them over, add some more water and cook for another 10 minutes, covering in the sauce with a spoon as they simmer.

Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Garnish with chopped parsley, salt and pepper, more shaved parmegiano reggiano and a drizzle of olive oil, of course!

[RNbynite]

@cindyNC ....That seems like a fabulous recipe for meatballs, and I love Fabio Viviani. He is the total real deal. The addition of ricotta cheese will make them very tender. The only thing I would add is some basil, otherwise I think it's perfect. 

On the other hand, I don't like Rao's sauce at all.

[FranandZoe]

I love Rao's marinara!  Got my brother hooked on it too and his wfie was Italian and a a great cook.

I'll look for the meatballs.

They make a frozen pizza too that I want to try.

[DSD2]

I love Raos sauce but only buy it when it is on sale (not frequently unfortunately).

I didn't know they made meatballs but judging by the sauce, I'm sure they are delicious.

[DSD2]

---

@LavernLuvsShoes wrote:

---

@Icegoddess wrote:

I've never tried Rao's jarred sauces...

Me either - The price has kept me from trying it, and I'd hate to be disappointed after paying so much for it.

I ususally buy Ragu, Prego or the (Kroger) store brand and "doctor it up." 

---

@LavernLuvsShoes I posted before I saw this.

Yes, I usually buy the cheapest brands and do what you do. That said, the Rao's with carmelized onions is heaven. If you want to splurge sometime, I recommend that. I buy it a few times a year around special occasions.