The Bear Spaghetti Italian-American (Print Version)
Rustic spaghetti with rich tomato meat sauce and herbs for a comforting Italian-American meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 14 oz dried spaghetti
→ Sauce
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
04 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 lb ground beef
06 - 1 tsp dried oregano
07 - 1 tsp dried basil
08 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
09 - 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
10 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
11 - 1 tsp sugar
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ To Serve
13 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 - Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
15 - Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
# Steps:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.
02 - While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 4-5 minutes, until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
03 - Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
04 - Stir in the oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes. Add the tomato paste, cooking for 1 minute to deepen the flavor.
05 - Pour in the crushed tomatoes and sugar. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes until the sauce thickens.
06 - Toss the drained spaghetti with the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired consistency.
07 - Serve hot, topped with grated Parmesan, fresh basil, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sauce develops a restaurant quality depth while you prep the pasta
- Leftovers taste even better the next day as flavors meld
02 -
- Reserve pasta water before draining or you will miss the secret ingredient that binds sauce to pasta
- The sauce needs those 20 minutes of simmering to transform from canned tomatoes into something special
03 -
- Let the sauce rest off the heat for 5 minutes before tossing with pasta for the best flavor integration
- Grate a little fresh nutmeg into the sauce for a subtle warmth that people cannot quite identify