Easy Homemade Pasta Sauce
This hearty pasta sauce is slow-cooked for deep, rich, meaty flavour. Prepare in advance to have available whenever pasta night is in order.
Servings: 10 servings
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 ribs celery, finely chopped
- 2 large carrots, grated
- 4-6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- ½ lb ground beef *see notes
- 3 italian sausages, casings removed *see notes
- 156 ml tomato paste (1 can)
- 2 heaping tbsp concentrated beef base or beef bouillon
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 bay leaf
- 680 ml can tomato sauce
- 1½ cups fire roasted tomatoes use one 398ml can if available
- 1½ cups water
- ¾ cup milk substitue cream if needed
- 1 tsp each salt & pepper
- 2 tsp sugar, optional
- ½ tsp chili flakes, optional
- parmesan or asiago cheese, for serving
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, celery, carrot, and garlic stirring to soften, being carful not to brown the vegetables.
- Move softened vegetables to the edge of the pan. Add sausage (casings removed) and ground beef, breaking up with a spoon. Cook, stirring, until meats are browned.
- Stir in tomato paste, beef concentrate, Italian seasoning, and bay leaf. Cook until tomato paste begins to sizzle and cook through.
- Stir in fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, pepper, and chilli flakes (if using). Bring to a gentle boil, stirring.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 2-3 hours, or until sauce is thickened and reduced slightly. If sauce begins to bubble, cover paritally with a lid.
- Stir in milk. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Add sugar if desired.
- Serve over rigatoni, spaghetti, or other sturdy pasta. Season with parmesan or asiago cheese, if desired.
Notes
Sausage and ground beef mix can be substituted for 1 full pound of either all beef or all Italian sausage. Other ground meats may also be used, but it will change the flavour slightly.
This homemade pasta sauce can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for 3 months.
Sugar and chilli flakes are optional. Add according to your taste.