Slow Simmered Italian Sauce Recipes

SLOW-SIMMERED SPAGHETTI MEAT SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook beef and sausage in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until beef is brown and sausage is no longer pink, about 8 minutes; drain.
• Mix beef mixture and remaining ingredients except spaghetti and Parmesan cheese in 3 1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker.
• Cover and cook on low heat setting 8 to 10 hours.
• About 20 minutes before serving, cook and drain spaghetti as directed on package. Serve sauce with hot cooked spaghetti and Parmesan cheese.

SLOW SIMMERED ITALIAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the Italian sausage in a large, nonstick skillet or Dutch oven. Drizzle with the 1/4 cup olive oil and saute over VERY low heat for 5 minutes, turning occasionally. Add the tomato paste and stir. If necessary, to avoid sticking, add another drizzle of olive oil and stir well. Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for approximately 30 minutes, until the tomato paste darkens and looks almost black.
• Meanwhile, put the remaining vegetables in a blender and add the 2 cups tomato juice. Blend until the vegetables are no longer solid. Add the two tablespoons of sugar, the salt and the red pepper flakes. Pour this mixture over the sauce and stir well to blend. Simmer, partially covered, for 2-1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Add the red wine in the last hour of cooking. Continue to simmer at least one hour, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until sauce reaches desired consistency. At this point, you can add any additional meat that has been pre-cooked, such as ground beef, sausage, or any vegetables such as mushrooms, as desired.
• This makes a large amount so you can freeze extra sauce in ziplock bags for the freezer. Simply thaw and reheat to use in lasagne, as pizza sauce, for spaghetti & meatballs, etc.

SLOW-SIMMERING PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook sausage and onion over medium heat for 7-8 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink and onion is tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Transfer to a 3-qt. slow cooker., Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, brown sugar, bay leaves, oregano, dried basil, salt and thyme. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours., Discard bay leaves; stir in half of the fresh basil. Serve with pasta. Top with remaining basil.

SLOW-SIMMERED MEAT RAGU

Steps:

• In a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker, combine the first 11 ingredients. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and onion; cook and stir until sausage is no longer pink and onion is tender. Drain. Add to slow cooker., Cook, covered, on low 6-8 hours or until chicken is tender. Serve with pasta. Freeze option: Do not cook or add pasta. Freeze cooled sauce in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Cook pasta according to package directions. Place meat mixture in a large saucepan; heat through, stirring occasionally and adding a little water if necessary. Proceed as directed.

SLOW-SIMMERED SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a 4-quart slow cooker.
• Cook, covered, on HIGH, 6 hours.
• Serve over spaghetti, chicken, or pork.