Description
Filipino Spaghetti with Sweet Sauce is a beloved comfort dish characterized by its sweet and savory meat sauce blending lean ground pork, sliced red hot dogs, and a unique combination of sweet-style spaghetti sauce and banana ketchup. Served over perfectly cooked spaghetti and topped with freshly grated cheese, this recipe delivers an authentically sweet and creamy Filipino take on classic spaghetti that’s easy to make and perfect for family meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Meats
- ½ pound lean ground pork
- 2 pieces diagonally sliced red hot dogs
Pasta
- 6 ounces dry spaghetti
Sauce & Flavorings
- 1 cup sweet-style spaghetti sauce
- ⅓ cup banana ketchup
- 1 small finely chopped yellow onion
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- Salt, to taste
- ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper
- ¼ cup reserved pasta water
Cheese & Oil
- ½ cup freshly grated cheese
- 1 to 2 tablespoons cooking oil
Instructions
- Cook the Spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the dry spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving about ¼ cup of the pasta water for later use.
- Brown the Ground Pork: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the cooking oil. Add the lean ground pork and brown thoroughly, breaking it apart with a spatula. Drain any excess fat and set the pork aside.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: In the same skillet, add the chopped yellow onions and cook until translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant.
- Combine Meat and Season: Return the browned ground pork to the skillet with onions and garlic. Lightly season with salt and coarse black pepper. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes while stirring to meld the flavors.
- Add Hot Dogs: Stir in the diagonally sliced red hot dogs and continue cooking for another 4 to 5 minutes, allowing them to slightly brown and blend into the meat mixture.
- Simmer the Sauce: Pour in the sweet-style spaghetti sauce, banana ketchup, and reserved pasta water. Stir well and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to deepen the flavors and avoid sticking.
- Adjust and Reserve Sauce: Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if needed. Transfer half of the sauce into a separate bowl to be used as a topping later.
- Combine Spaghetti and Sauce: Add the cooked spaghetti into the remaining sauce in the skillet. Toss thoroughly to coat the pasta evenly with the sweet sauce.
- Serve: Plate the coated spaghetti, spoon the reserved sweet sauce on top, and generously sprinkle with freshly grated cheese before serving.
Notes
- Use freshly grated cheese for a creamy texture and authentic Filipino flavor.
- Red hot dogs can be substituted with your preferred sausage or omitted for a leaner version.
- Adjust the sweetness by varying the amount of banana ketchup to suit your taste preference.
- Reserved pasta water helps loosen the sauce and allows it to cling better to the noodles.
- Lightly browning the hot dogs and pork separately enhances the overall flavor of the dish.
Keywords: Filipino spaghetti, sweet spaghetti sauce, banana ketchup spaghetti, red hot dog spaghetti, pork spaghetti recipe, Filipino pasta