3 of the Best Sauces to Cook Italian Dishes

A great Italian dish always starts with the sauce. It’s the soul of the recipe - not to drown the pasta, but to elevate it. With the right blend of rich tomatoes, carefully selected herbs and real Italian know-how, a simple plate becomes something remarkable. This is how we cook in Italy: bold flavours, simple ingredients, and confidence in every stirring spoon. Ready to cook like an Italian?

Nonna’s Best Sauces To Cook Italian Dishes

Juicy Rich Ragù

If you’re looking for a rich Ragù sauce, then look no further. One of the best sauces to cook Italian dishes with is Ragù, a meat-based crowd pleaser, which pairs perfectly with Spaghetti Bolognese or Lasagne.

A great Ragù starts with good ingredients: tender meat, finely chopped onions, celery and carrots, all brought together with a generous drizzle of Napolina Olive Oil. Let everything soften, then add Napolina Italian Chopped Tomatoes and stir through our Red Wine Flavour Booster. This simple step transforms the sauce – deepening the richness, lifting the aromas and unlocking that unmistakably bold, indulgent Ragù flavour Italians know and love.

Why not cook Slow Cooked Beef Ragu with Napolina from scratch?

Plum Ready Marinara Sauce

Craving real tomatoes? They are one of the key ingredients of the best sauces to cook Italian dishes. Elevate your mealtimes with a smooth, vibrant Marinara – an Italian classic and the perfect midweek hero for the whole family. Whether you marry it with Napolina’s range of pasta shapes or long linguine and spaghetti, this iconic Italian tomato sauce never fails to impress at the table.

Generously drizzle Napolina Extra Virgin Olive Oil in a saucepan and add our juicy Italian chopped tomatoes for that full, ripe flavour only Italian tomatoes deliver. To thicken up your sauce, add a generous squeeze of tomato puree. Feeling bold? Try our Garlic-Infused Chopped Tomatoes for an instant burst of Italian aroma – a simple upgrade that brings your Marinara to life, the Napolina way.

Green Goodness Pesto Perfection

Bring a burst of fresh, vibrant flavour to your table with a pesto sauce that delivers pure Italian energy. It’s the perfect way to switch up your midweek meals and add something truly irresistible.

This classic basil pesto is crafted the Italian way: fragrant basil leaves blended with Napolina Extra Virgin Olive Oil, garlic, parmesan and a squeeze of lemon for brightness. The result? A bold, tangy, beautifully balanced pesto – no fuss, just simple ingredients done well.

Want to explore more pesto inspiration? Try our Red Pesto and Tomato Bruschetta for a rich, flavour-packed twist.

Step into Nonna’s kitchen and explore more Italian cooking tips here.