Spaghetti meat sauce

Sure, here’s a classic recipe for spaghetti with meat sauce:

Ingredients:

For the Meat Sauce:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 pound ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork)
• 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
• 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 1/2 cup red wine (optional)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh basil, chopped (optional, for garnish)
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)

For the Spaghetti:

• 1 pound spaghetti
• Salt (for the pasta water)

Instructions:

Preparing the Meat Sauce:

1. Heat the Oil: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
2. Cook the Aromatics: Add the chopped onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
3. Brown the Meat: Add the ground beef (or beef and pork mix) to the pot. Cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through. Drain any excess fat.
4. Add the Tomatoes: Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. Mix well.
5. Add the Wine and Seasonings: Pour in the red wine (if using). Add the sugar, dried basil, dried oregano, dried thyme, dried rosemary, and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Simmer: Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer uncovered for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. The longer it simmers, the better the flavors will develop. Adjust seasoning if needed.

Cooking the Spaghetti:

1. Boil Water: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Cook the Spaghetti: Add the spaghetti to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. This usually takes about 8-10 minutes.
3. Drain: Drain the spaghetti in a colander, reserving a cup of the pasta water in case you need to thin the sauce later.

Serving:

1. Combine Pasta and Sauce: If the sauce is too thick, you can add a bit of the reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency. Toss the cooked spaghetti with the meat sauce until well coated.
2. Garnish: Serve the spaghetti topped with fresh basil and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Enjoy your delicious spaghetti with meat sauce!