BASIC MEAT SAUCE; KEEMAS SALTSA
This recipe is a must have as part of your repertoire. It can be used to create countless meals. To name a few, pastitsio, moussaka, stuffed vegetables, spaghetti and meat sauce... The list is endless. Get creative!
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 (16 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
- pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, cilantro or basil
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- You may substitute the ground beef for ground chicken, lamb or turkey.
- Begin by combining the chopped onion, garlic cloves and olive oil in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium low heat for about 15 minutes or until soft and golden. At this point the garlic cloves will be very soft. Smash them with a wooden spoon or a spatula. They will melt into the sauce. (No need to chop them)
- Add the ground beef and mix well over high heat.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and oregano. Mix to combine.
- Pour the cup of water over everything and mix one more time.
- Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to medium. Cook for about 15-20 minutes or until the sauce has thickened to the consistency that you prefer. You may cook it longer if you like a more concentrated, thick meat sauce or you can even add a little more water if you like a thinner sauce.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and enjoy!
Hi I tried your recipe yesterday and it was delicious and easy to make. I added more oregano, crushed basil, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste. I made the sauce for spaghetti and next time I make spaghetti and meat sauce, I will try your one pot recipe where you add pasta to the sauce with 5 cups of water. My mother who was Greek made a similar sauce which was very flavorful and delicious.
Hi again I posted an earlier comment which I want to add more to my comment. Dimitra’s recipe was also very flavorful and delicious like what my Greek mother made while I was growing up. I also added a small can of mushrooms to the recipe which my husband likes in spaghetti sauce. When my daughter is with us, she lives out of town, I also add different colored frozen peppers and if I have fresh, I add them instead of frozen which she likes in spaghetti sauce.