Sweet-style Pinoy spaghetti holds just as much cultural power as adobo. The bright red Bolognese—with its sliced hotdogs, banana ketchup, and wink of sugar—is the centerpiece of many birthday parties and Christmas celebrations. Pair it with fried chicken and you’ve got a ticket to a good time. Italians will find the sweet sauce offensive, but for us, it’s the flavor of a happy childhood.
This recipe levels up your classic Pinoy spaghetti by adding ground longganisa and Arla’s natural cheeses.
Arla Cheesy Spread, made with almost 90% real cow’s milk (unlike other cheese spreads which are 70% vegetable oil), goes into the red sauce to add creaminess and a cheesy undertone. And as much as we love processed cheese on top of our Pinoy spaghetti, Arla Cheddar Cheese brings it to a restaurant-worthy level that will win over your entire family.
Party’s over? Enjoy the fresh taste of Arla’s natural cheeses in these other Naturally Filipino Pastas:
- Three Cheese Cashew Pesto
- Lasagna with Crispy Cheese Crust
- Better Pinoy Carbonara with Cream Cheese
- Cheesy Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
Spaghetti Sauce
- 2 tbsp neutral oil
- 1 cup red hotdogs, sliced into coins
- 500g longganisa, removed from casing
- ⅓ cup chopped red onions
- ½ cup tomato paste
- ¾ cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup banana ketchup
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp white sugar
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup Arla Cheesy Spread
For Serving
- 500g dry spaghetti noodles
- Arla Cheddar Cheese, shredded
Cook hotdogs and longganisa: Heat oil in a deep skillet or pot over medium heat. Add hotdog coins and sear until lightly golden. Remove from pan and set aside. Add longganisa to the same pan. Using the flat edge of a spatula or wooden spoon, break up the longganisa until it resembles ground beef. Sear longganisa until lightly golden brown. Remove from pan and set aside.
Make spaghetti sauce: Add red onions to the same pan and cook, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent. Add cooked hotdogs and longganisa to the pan, stirring to incorporate onions. Add tomato paste and stir to distribute into the mixture, 2 minutes. Add tomato sauce, banana ketchup, soy sauce, white sugar, and ¼ cup water to the pan. Season with black pepper. Stir in Arla Cheese Spread until fully incorporated. If sauce is too thick, add water in ¼ cup increments.
Cook spaghetti: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions, or until al dente. Drain.
Serve: You can either stir the cooked spaghetti into the sauce; serve pasta and the tomato sauce separately; or divide pasta between bowls, topped with a ladle of sauce. Finish with shredded Arla Cheddar Cheese. Serve immediately.
