Meat Sauce Recipe
Make Meat Sauce Recipe in just 1h 15m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Meat Sauce
Pasta (suggested)
Method
Meat Sauce
Sweat vegetables
Heat a large heavy-bottomed sauté pan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add olive oil. When shimmering, add the diced onion, carrot and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 6–8 minutes. Add a pinch (about 1/4 tsp) of the salt to help draw out moisture.
Brown the meats
Increase heat to medium-high. Add the ground beef and ground pork to the pan, breaking up with a wooden spoon. Season with the remaining salt and black pepper. Cook until meat is well browned and no longer pink, about 8–10 minutes, allowing some caramelized bits to form on the bottom of the pan.
Add tomatoes and simmer
Stir in the crushed tomatoes, beef or chicken stock, dried oregano, dried basil, bay leaf and sugar (if using). Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low. Partially cover and simmer gently for 35–45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and flavors meld. If the sauce becomes too thick, add up to 1/2 cup additional stock or reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency.
Finish
Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Stir in chopped fresh parsley and 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan (optional) just before serving for added freshness and umami.
Pasta & Serve
Cook pasta
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 tbsp salt. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.