I’m not saying you should ditch your Sunday gravy, but it may be worth mixing things up every once in a while. Sauz is constantly dropping new twists on traditional jarred sauces. Its latest, Zesty Italian Vodka Sauce ($12.49/jar), gives the classic creamy sauce an herby upgrade (which, as the name implies, was inspired by the classic salad dressing). It’s a lively foil to mozzarella, making it a great pairing for chicken Parm or ziti bakes.
Meanwhile, Carbone unveiled an Italian take on chili crisp, offering two varieties: Calabrian Chili Crisp (pairing the chili with red bell pepper, onion, garlic and oil) and Aglio e Peperoncino (a milder take, featuring hot peppers, green bell pepper, onion, garlic, parsley and oil). It’s meant to be drizzled as a finishing touch on pizza, pasta, grilled meat and, well, anything that could use a jolt of flavor. You can buy both varieties for $28 per two-pack at Amazon.
And, if you want to go all out without going all out, check out Riff ($8.29/kit), a new meal kit service from Daniel Humm, the chef behind the three Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park. Each boxed pasta kit contains noodles, sauce and a topping, along with the chef’s recommendations for a few simple, fresh ingredients that can take the meal to the next level (like simmering sliced mushrooms in the sauce when making the Creamy Parmesan Cavatappi). You can find it at Target or on EatRiff.com.
