The most popular Italian food is pasta, which has been handed down over the years. Pasta is basically pieces of dough cut into various shapes and sizes, but the reason why pasta is world-famous is that mouth-watering pasta sauces are poured on it. These sauces turn simple noodles into a delicious dinner. You can make a dish rich in flavor by combining perforated, long, spiral, and many other shapes of pasta with unique sauces.

Different tastes have been preferred in different regions of Italy in terms of tradition and history. Different pasta sauces have been discovered according to the vegetables grown in the region or the taste. For instance, in the city of Bologna meat-based Bolognese sauce is made, while in Genova there is pesto sauce made with basil and olive oil, and vongole sauce with clams is used on the coastline. Another example is that both Napoli’s marinara sauce and Rome’s arrabiata sauce are tomato-based, the only difference being the seasoning in the latter.

Which is best pasta sauce?

Italians have revolutionized pasta sauces. They have dozens of sauces, from tomato-based to cream-based, meat-based, oil-based, and wine-based. Nevertheless, wherever you go in the world, the most famous sauce you can eat is sauce for Bolognese. Bolognese sauce is mostly preferred with thin and long pastas such as spaghetti and tagliatelle. For this reason, spaghetti Bolognese has become a world brand.

So, what are the ingredients in Bolognese sauce? Or what sauces are there besides Bolognese sauce? Which pasta sauce is compatible with what kind of pasta?

We’ve put together Top 9 Italian Pasta Sauce for you:

• Bolognese

Bolognese sauce is a version of the most preferred ragu sauce in the world. The history of this sauce, which belongs to the city of Bologna in the Emilia Romagna region, dates to Louis XIV. It was discovered by a chef from Bologna who served the palace cuisine.

It is a meat-based sauce made from minced pork or beef sautéed with tomatoes, onions, and herbs. Some recipes also use red wine. It is paired with long pastas such as spaghetti, tagliatelle, linguine, or pappardelle.

• Mio

Mio sauce is a homemade pasta sauce special for MioPasta. It is an intense flavor consisting of blending dry sweet pepper with walnuts and is made more appetizing by heating.

• Arrabiata

Arrabiata, which means “angry” in Italian, is preferred with short pasta. The main ingredient of this fiery sauce of Rome is Spanish pepper. Other ingredients are sweet tomatoes, garlic, salt, and extra virgin olive oil. It is prepared by cooking at minimal heat until it reaches a creamy consistency.

We recommend you try the Arrabiata sauce with penne and spaghetti. You can easily prepare your penne Arrabiata or Spaghetti Arrabiata and enjoy it or you can come to MioPasta.

• Napoletana

The napolitana pasta sauce, also called “la salsa”, is a tomato-based red sauce that can also be used in other dishes such as pizza. Its ingredients are tomatoes and herbs, onion can be added according to its place. It is also like Arrabiata. A flavorful taste is obtained with spaghetti.

It originated in Naples, Southern Italy. Also called marinara sauce, but not to be confused with sauce made with seafood.

• Pesto

Next up is the pesto sauce from Genoa, where Italy’s best basil is grown. This pasta sauce, whose main ingredient is basil, is combined with olive oil, garlic, pine nuts, and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese to achieve a mild flavor. Pesto sauce is especially used to flavor penne pasta.

• Quattro Formaggi

Quattro Formaggi, which means four cheeses, is a sauce prepared by blending four different cheeses: mozzarella, provolone, romano, and asiago. Cheeses have an intense taste but don’t sit in your stomach. It is used not only for pasta sauce but also for pizza.

• Salmone

Salmone sauce, a cream-based pasta sauce, is made by integrating salmon, parsley, and basil with cream. A sought-after flavor for those who want to add salmon aroma to spaghetti.

• Pomodori Mascarpone

Pomodori Mascarpone sauce prepared by adding tomatoes to mascarpone cream cheese makes your pasta delicious. It will be a heavenly meal that will accompany you at lunch, friend meetings, and a romantic dinner.

• Funghi

Last but not least, Funghi sauce prepared with mushrooms. Although it is not very well known compared to other sauces, it is a healthy and hearty pasta sauce. Mushrooms and white peppers are sautéed in a pan and then cream is added. After that, it’s time to meet with penne, rigatoni, spaghetti or linguine!

Penne pesto, spaghetti Bolognese, spaghetti arrabiata and so on… You can feast your stomach with various pastas prepared with dozens of pasta sauces. We have brought together the Top 9 Italian pasta sauce for you. How would you like your pasta? With spicy arrabiata or basil-scented pesto?

If you want to taste the pasta with our beautiful pasta sauces, we are waiting for you at our Miopasta restaurants which will make you feel like you are in Italy.