Description
Classic Spaghetti Sauce sparkles with authentic Italian flavors, simmering rich tomatoes and herbs into a deeply satisfying meal. Family dinners become memorable moments when this hearty sauce connects generations around one delicious plate.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) lean ground beef
- 1 can (28 ounces / 794 grams) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (12 ounces / 340 grams) tomato sauce
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 green pepper, chopped
- 1 cup (150 grams) mushrooms, sliced
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Prepare a large pot and warm extra virgin olive oil over medium heat, creating a sizzling foundation for the sauce.
- Introduce ground beef, diced onions, minced garlic, chopped green pepper, and sliced mushrooms into the heated oil, allowing them to dance and meld together until the beef transforms into a rich, brown color and vegetables become tender, approximately 10 minutes.
- Integrate tomato paste, tomato sauce, and crushed tomatoes into the meat mixture, followed by a harmonious blend of salt, pepper, sugar, aromatic bay leaf, oregano, and Italian seasoning, stirring to ensure every ingredient is thoroughly combined.
- Reduce the heat to a gentle low setting, cover the pot, and let the sauce simmer slowly, developing deep, complex flavors for 60 minutes, occasionally stirring to prevent sticking and promote even cooking.
- After the simmering process, carefully extract the bay leaf, ensuring no remnants remain in the sauce.
- Ladle the robust, fragrant sauce over freshly cooked spaghetti noodles or your preferred pasta, optionally garnishing with a sprinkle of fresh parsley for a vibrant finishing touch.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by adjusting pepper quantity for mild or spicy preferences.
- Replace ground beef with plant-based crumbles for vegetarian version, ensuring similar texture and protein content.
- Enhance depth of flavor by adding a splash of red wine during vegetable sautéing stage for complex, rich undertones.
- Freeze extra sauce in portioned containers for quick future meals, maintaining quality for up to 3 months when properly stored.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 218 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 533 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg