Spaghetti Sauce (Easy Italian Style with 6 Ingredients)
User Reviews
4.9
-
Prep Time
5 mins
-
Cook Time
1 hr
-
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
-
Servings
5 for 1 lb of spaghetti
-
Calories
278 kcal
-
Course
Main Course
-
Cuisine
Italian
Spaghetti Sauce (Easy Italian Style with 6 Ingredients)
Description
The recipe starts by gently infusing extra virgin olive oil with crushed garlic and chopped Italian parsley. Ground beef is added and browned with salt, breaking it apart to create a meaty base. Once the beef is cooked down slightly, tomato puree is introduced along with some water if needed to adjust thickness depending on the brand of tomato used.
Fresh basil leaves add aromatic herbal notes, while kosher or sea salt enhances natural flavors. Black pepper is optionally used for subtle heat and complexity. The sauce simmers for about an hour to meld the ingredients and soften the tomato's acidity, resulting in a balanced, hearty sauce with vibrant color.
This sauce pairs traditionally with spaghetti, either tossed directly with pasta or served alongside. For restaurant-style presentation, the spaghetti can be twirled and plated, topped with a fresh basil sprig and grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese. Alternatively, serving family-style in a bowl is common. Reserved pasta water can be added if the sauce thickens excessively.
Choosing good-quality tomato puree, ideally Pomodoro San Marzano from Italy, impacts the flavor significantly. The process of adding pasta to the sauce rather than pouring sauce over pasta helps the noodles absorb the sauce better for improved texture and taste.
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic (fresh)
- 1 Tbsp Italian parsley (fresh, chopped)
- 8 oz ground beef (grass fed)
- 1 tsp kosher salt (or sea salt, more to taste)
- 28 oz tomato puree (jarred, Italian)
- 10 leaves basil (fresh, Italian)
- ⅛ tsp black pepper (optional, to taste)
Instructions
- Crush the garlic with the flat side of a knife.
- Bring the extra virgin olive oil (and lard, if using) to medium high heat, then add the garlic and chopped parsley.
- After a minute, add the ground beef and break up with a wooden spoon. Add some salt, and cook until it begins to dry up, then add the tomato passata/purèe/chopped tomatoes of your choice.
- If using Mutti, they tend to be thick, so add about ¾ cup (177 ml) of water or until the bottom line of the jar (shake to rinse) then add to the pot. If you're using another brand, rinse the can/jar with a little less water, unless it's very thick.
- Put the burner on high to bring the sauce to a simmer, and add more salt. Don't be afraid to add Kosher/sea salt as I can guarantee you will have much less sodium in this sauce than a jar of store-bought.
- Lower the heat so that the sauce simmers gently for about an hour, stirring occassionally (so that the sauce won't stick). Taste for seasoning after about 30 minutes, and add salt if needed.
- When the sauce is ready, check once again for seasoning. Add salt and pepper as desired, and a generous amount of fresh basil, torn into pieces.
Notes
- Use Pomodoro San Marzano DOP whole peeled tomatoes for best tomato flavor in the sauce.
- When draining cooked spaghetti, reserve some pasta water or transfer pasta directly to the sauce to ensure proper coating.
- Serve spaghetti twirled for a formal presentation or family-style in a bowl.
- Top with freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese to enhance flavor.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 5for 1 lb of spaghetti
Amount Per Serving
Calories 278 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 | |
| Calories | 278kcal | 14% |
| Carbohydrates | 15g | 5% |
| Protein | 11g | 22% |
| Fat | 21g | 32% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 12g | 60% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 32mg | 11% |
| Sodium | 541mg | 23% |
| Potassium | 835mg | 18% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 8g | 16% |
| Vitamin A | 930IU | 19% |
| Vitamin C | 19mg | 21% |
| Calcium | 43mg | 4% |
| Iron | 4mg | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
You'll Also Love
