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Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Using Fresh Tomatoes

Sweet Bacon & Pecans
Print Recipe
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

For ground meat and vegetables:

  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion peeled and diced
  • 1 medium bell pepper cored and diced
  • 2 celery ribs sliced
  • 2 medium carrots shredded
  • 1 large or 2 small zucchini trimmed and diced
  • 1 lb. ground Italian sausage
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 2 sprigs fresh oregano
  • 1 fresh bay leaf
  • 4 to 6 garlic cloves peeled and minced
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

For the tomato sauce:

  • ½ cup fresh basil leaves lightly packed, torn
  • 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 tsp granulated sugar or honey
  • ½ tsp fresh ground black pepper
  • ½ tsp salt or to taste
  • 8 to 10 cups diced tomatoes about 4 to 5 lbs. large tomatoes
  • 4 cups chicken stock or water
  • 1 lb. spaghetti pasta cooked and drained, to serve

Instructions
 

  • Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, celery, and carrots to the pot. Cook 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables start to soften and turn golden brown.
  • Add ground beef and ground Italian sausage to the pot. Cook 10 to 12 minutes, or until the meat is fully cooked. Break the meat into small pieces as it cooks, using a meat masher or a large spoon.
  • Add fresh rosemary, oregano, bay leaf, garlic, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes to the pot. Stir 20 to 30 seconds, to allow flavors to bloom.
  • Stir in fresh basil and parsley. Add sugar or honey, ground black pepper, salt, chopped tomatoes, and chicken stock or water to the pot. Stir to combine ingredients.
  • Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 35 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes are tender. Serve homemade spaghetti sauce over cooked spaghetti pasta.
Keyword dinner recipes, fresh basil recipes, Italian recipes, tomato recipes