Meaty Mushroom Sauce – Recipe!

Pasta is one of those comfort foods that you crave during the cooler months of the year, but really, it’s amazing anytime.  Hearty tomato sauce rich with meat and mushrooms is simple enough to prepare for a weeknight meal, or for a small holiday gatherings for just a handful of people.  My grandson is a big spaghetti lover and he just loves a good bowl of heart warming pasta, and this recipe is one of his favorites.

In this recipe, I brown two kinds of meat, along with some earthy mushrooms to give the sauce enough body to really appreciate.  As the sauce cooks, the house smells similar to an Italian restaurant, so you might have to break out a glass of red wine to sip during cooking in the kitchen.  I like to spoon it over cooked pasta like spaghetti or bucatini, and for those low-carb eaters, steamy spaghetti squash, because both absorb the meat sauce so beautifully.  Mix together a big salad to serve alongside, and you have yourself a delightful meal to enjoy.  It’s also great to rewarm for lunches at home during the week.

Ingredients

1 white onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 pound ground beef

1/2 pound ground pork

1 pound mushrooms, sliced – any variety

2 teaspoons dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

14 ounces roasted canned tomatoes

6 ounces tomato paste

1 1/2 pounds cooked pasta or spaghetti squash

olive oil for cooking

Parmesan cheese, optional

(Serves 4-6)

To Prepare:

1. In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, add 2 teaspoon of olive oil, diced onion and garlic.  Place over medium heat and cook for 3 minutes.  Add ground meat and break apart with spoon, continue to cook for 8 minutes, then add sliced mushrooms.  Cook meat and mushroom mixture for 7 minutes.

2.  Add oregano, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper and stir.  Pour in tomatoes, tomato paste and 1 1/2  cups water or white wine.  Stir to combine and continue to cook for 6 minutes.  Turn heat to simmer and cover pan with lid.  Cook for 20 minutes.

3.  Remove lid and stir.  To serve, ladle sauce over pasta or squash, or toss sauce with pasta in pan and serve.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Enjoy!