Description
Hearty Homemade Spaghetti Sauce brings Italian comfort straight to kitchen tables with rich, slow-simmered tomato goodness. Rich herbs and slow-cooked flavors make you dream of Mediterranean kitchens, promising a delicious meal that connects family and friends around one warm, inviting plate.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 can (28 ounces / 794 grams) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (12 ounces / 340 grams) tomato sauce
- 1 1/2 pounds (680 grams) lean ground beef
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 green pepper, chopped
- 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Herbs, Seasonings, and Additional Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup 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
- Warm olive oil in a large pot over medium heat (around 350°F), preparing for a robust flavor foundation.
- Introduce ground beef, onions, garlic, green peppers, and mushrooms into the pot, creating a savory aromatic base.
- Sauté the mixture, gently stirring every few minutes, until the beef transforms to a rich brown color and vegetables become tender, approximately 8-12 minutes.
- Incorporate tomato paste, tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, seasonings including salt, pepper, sugar, bay leaf, oregano, and Italian herbs, blending ingredients thoroughly.
- Reduce cooking temperature to low, covering the pot with a lid to trap moisture and enhance flavor melding.
- Allow sauce to gently simmer, occasionally stirring to prevent sticking, for 50-65 minutes until flavors harmonize and sauce thickens.
- Discard the bay leaf to prevent any bitter undertones in the final sauce.
- Ladle the hearty sauce over freshly cooked pasta, optionally garnishing with delicate chopped parsley for a vibrant finish.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based meat alternatives for a leaner or vegetarian version.
- Use fresh herbs like basil or thyme instead of dried Italian seasoning for a more vibrant flavor profile.
- Enhance sauce depth by adding a splash of red wine during the simmering process for complex, rich undertones.
- Freeze extra sauce in portion-sized containers for quick and easy future meals, maintaining freshness up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 251 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 340 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg