We have this easy meat sauce at least once a week. In its most basic form, you just need two ingredients to make the sauce: ground beef and a jar of your favorite marinara. For more flavor, we add two links Italian sausage (casings removed), and a pinch of oregano and parsley. For a hint of natural sweetness and some extra fiber, we add finely grated carrot.
As with all my recipes, you are welcome to add whatever else you like! Sautéed red bell peppers and onion increases the veggie count, and minced garlic packs in flavor. Fresh herbs like oregano, basil, or bay leaf add a lovely herbal undertone, and a touch or red wine or balsamic vinegar adds sweetness and depth. So have fun with this one!
This easy meat sauce is wonderful for a big family (simply double everything and use a larger pot), but works just as well if there’s only one or two at the table (make a single batch and freeze the remainder).
If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional pasta for serving, check your grocery store’s veggie section for spiralized zucchini noodles. Or, try making your own zucchini noodles with this spiralizer. (And don’t worry if you’re not ready to commit to a new kitchen gadget; simply use a veggie peeler to create wide, flat, thin noodles, as I demonstrate on this YouTube tutorial.)
Do let me know if you try this one! I always love to hear from viewers. And thank you for watching: you give my passion a purpose and I’m ever grateful.
