Filipino Spaghetti with Sweet Banana Ketchup Sauce Recipe

Filipino Spaghetti with Sweet Sauce is a comforting pasta dish featuring lean ground pork, sweet-style spaghetti sauce, banana ketchup, and sliced red hot dogs. This recipe combines savory, sweet, and cheesy flavors for a distinctly Filipino twist on classic spaghetti, perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings.

📝 Ingredients

• 1/2 pound lean ground pork
• 2 pieces diagonally sliced red hot dogs
• 6 ounces dry spaghetti
• 1 cup sweet-style spaghetti sauce
• 1/3 cup banana ketchup
• 1/4 cup water (reserved pasta water)
• 1 small finely chopped yellow onion
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 1/2 cup freshly grated cheese
• 1 to 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse black pepper

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the dry spaghetti until al dente, following package instructions. Drain the pasta and reserve about ¼ cup of pasta water for later use.
2. 2Brown the Ground Pork: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the cooking oil. Add the lean ground pork and brown it thoroughly, breaking it apart with a spatula. Once browned, drain off any excess fat and set the pork aside.
3. 3Sauté Onions and Garlic: In the same skillet, add the chopped yellow onions and sauté until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and continue to sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
4. 4Combine Meat and Season: Return the browned ground pork to the skillet with the sautéed onions and garlic. Season lightly with salt and coarse black pepper. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes while stirring regularly to incorporate flavors.
5. 5Cook Hot Dogs: Add the diagonally sliced red hot dogs into the skillet. Cook for another 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, allowing the hot dogs to slightly brown and meld with the pork mixture.
6. 6Add Sauce and Simmer: Pour in the sweet-style spaghetti sauce, banana ketchup, and reserved pasta water. Stir thoroughly and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Let it cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and to deepen the flavors.
7. 7Adjust and Reserve Sauce: Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if needed. Transfer half of the sauce into a separate bowl to be used as topping later.
8. 8Coat the Pasta: Add the cooked al dente spaghetti into the remaining sauce in the skillet. Toss and stir well to fully coat the pasta with the flavorful sweet-style sauce.
9. 9Serve: Plate the coated spaghetti and top with the reserved sweet-style sauce. Finish by sprinkling the freshly grated cheese generously over the dish before serving.