SPAGHETTI AND MEAT SAUCE
- 1 pound lean ground meat like beef, turkey, chicken or lamb
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup (130 grams) chopped onion
- 3 garlic cloves, minced (1 tablespoon)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup water, broth or dry red wine
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- Salt and fresh ground black pepper
- Handful fresh basil leaves, plus more for serving
- 12 ounces dried spaghetti or favorite pasta shape
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS, SEE NOTES
- 2 to 3 teaspoons fish sauce
- 3 to 4 anchovy fillets, minced with some of their oil or use anchovy paste
- Pinch sugar
- 1 leftover rind from a wedge of parmesan
Directions
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- MAKE SAUCE
1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat (we use a Dutch oven). Add the meat and cook until browned, about 8 minutes. As the meat cooks, use a wooden spoon to break it up into smaller crumbles.
2.Add the onions and cook, stirring every once and a while, until softened, about 5 minutes.
3.Stir in the garlic, tomato paste, oregano, and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring continuously for about 1 minute.
4.Pour in the water and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any bits of meat or onion stuck to the bottom of the pot. Stir in the tomatoes, 3/4 teaspoon of salt, and a generous pinch of black pepper. Bring the sauce to a low simmer. Cook, uncovered, at a low simmer for 25 minutes. As it cooks, stir and taste the sauce a few times so you can adjust the seasoning accordingly (see notes for suggestions).
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- COOK SPAGHETTI
1.About 15 minutes before the sauce finishes cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to the boil, and then cook pasta according to package directions, but check for doneness a minute or two before the suggested cooking time.
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- TO FINISH
1.Take the sauce off of the heat, and then stir in the basil. Toss in the cooked pasta, and then leave for a minute so that the pasta absorbs some of the sauce. Toss again, and then serve with parmesan sprinkled on top.
Recipe Courtesy of Adam and Joanne: https://www.inspiredtaste.net/38940/spaghetti-with-meat-sauce-recipe/
