12 italian gravy recipes

Baby portobello mushrooms, dried porcini mushrooms and tomatoes make this ragu taste super delicious. Mix it into spaghetti or use it to make lasagna, and it will deliver the maximum yumminess.

A garden vegetable spaghetti sauce loaded with peppers, zucchini, and summer squash, slow-simmered with garlic and a big handful of herbs. A meatless, freezer-friendly marinara for using up the garden.

Pound cake slices draped in a cloud-light mascarpone sauce with brandy, whipped egg whites, and fresh berries. An Italian-style dessert that looks fancy but takes 20 minutes.

Italian-style tomato sauce simmered with kelp seaweed (alaria or laminaria), garlic, oregano, and Worcestershire. A mineral-rich, umami-packed sauce for spaghetti, meatballs, or browned meat.

Light linguine with white clam sauce made with canned clams simmered in their own briny liquid with onion, parsley, and Parmesan. A low-fat Italian pasta that lets the clean ocean flavor of the clams shine through.

Pasta with pesto and grilled chicken: linguine tossed with jarred or homemade pesto and charred chicken pieces. Quick 30-minute dinner, warm or room temperature.

Condimento Pugliese: roasted red pepper spread with olive oil and red pepper flakes. A chunky Italian condiment for crostini, pasta, or bruschetta. Five ingredients, no cook.

Rustic Italian aubergine and anchovy pasta with a slow-baked tomato sauce thickened with mashed anchovies. A bold, salty, deeply savory supper that's dead simple to make.

Hearty lentil tomato sauce with dried lentils, fresh tomatoes, and Italian herbs simmered into a thick, protein-rich vegetarian pasta sauce. Meaty texture without the meat.

Make your pasta dishes seem authentic with this spaghetti sauce made of Veggies, tomatoes and a variety of spices.

Italian-style venison pot roast braised low and slow in red wine, tomato sauce, and oregano. A Dutch oven recipe that turns lean game meat fork-tender with rich gravy.

A big fresh ham roasted for hours, then stuffed with spicy Italian sausage and cooked until fork-tender. The pan drippings make a rich, savory gravy. Feeds a crowd with just two ingredients.