Italian Meat Sauce Family Secret Recipes

CLASSIC ITALIAN MEAT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large saucepot, heat one tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add both the ground beef and the sausage together and cook, stirring frequently, and breaking up the meat so that it's very crumbly and browned throughout, about 4 to 6 minutes. Turn it into a strainer and let it the fat drain off.
• Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the same pot over medium heat (don't clean it! All those little bits of flavor from the meat will season the sauce). Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, oregano and basil and cook, stirring for 2 more minutes, until you can smell the garlic and herbs. Add the wine, if using, and stir for one more minute, scraping up any bits stuck to the bottom, until the wine pretty much evaporates.
• Add the canned tomatoes and red pepper flakes if using, and stir to combine everything. Bring to a simmer over medium high heat, stirring occasionally. Add the browned meat, lower the heat to medium low and simmer, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes. Taste, and season gently with the salt and pepper (the sausages provide a whole lot of seasoning).

ITALIAN MEAT SAUCE FAMILY SECRET

Steps:

• Fry bacon until crisp in a wide 6 qt pot.
• Remove crisp bacon and all but 2 Tbls of bacon grease, saving bacon and extra bacon grease.
• Brown ground beef in pot with bacon grease.
• Stir in chopped onions, green pepper, and garlic and cook on medium low for 10 minutes to soften veggies (add additional bacon grease if needed).
• Crush tomatoes (I use my hands) and add to pot along with tomato paste, crisp bacon bits, one C of wine, 4 tsps each of oregano and basil and then remaining ingredients.
• Don't forget to reserve wine and spices.
• Bring everything to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 3 hours, stirring occasionally.
• After first hour, taste sauce to correct seasoning to your taste.
• Ten to fifteen minutes before serving, add the remaining oregano, basil and wine.
• Serve over hot pasta and top with grated parmesan cheese.
• To enhance flavors if time allows, allow sauce to cool, refrigerate for 1-2 hours, bring to room temperature before reheating.

ITALIAN MEAT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook the beef, sausage and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the tomato sauce, tomatoes, tomato paste, water, mushrooms, olives if desired and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 45-60 minutes or until sauce reaches desired thickness. , Discard bay leaf. Serve over spaghetti; or cool, cover and freeze for up to 2 months.

OLD ITALIAN MEAT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, brown beef and pork over medium heat until no longer pink; set aside.
• In a large skillet, warm olive oil over medium heat and saute onions and garlic until tender; add about 1/2 cup of wine; mix well.
• Add mushrooms, rosemary, oregano and thyme to skillet and add another 1/2 cup wine; saute until tender.
• Add browned meat, tomato sauce and tomato paste to mixture; simmer for 1 hour and add the remaining 2 cups of wine.
• Simmer sauce on low for 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally; serve.