Description

Italian cuisine has some of the world's best comfort foods. Serve this delicious meat sauce over your favorite pasta along with a side salad.

Ingredients

• 2 T. olive oil, divided
• 1 lb. 85% lean ground beef (or ground turkey, pork or veal)
• 3/4 t. coarse salt
• 3/4 c. yellow onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 c. dry red wine (Zinfandel or Chianti)
• 2 - 28 oz. cans crushed or pureed tomatoes
• several handfuls fresh parsley leaves, plus minced parsley for serving (see notes)
• 2 t. dried oregano
• 1-2 bay leaves
• freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• freshly minced basil leaves and grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Steps

1. Warm 1 T. oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. When hot, add ground beef, breaking it up into small pieces while cooking. Sprinkle coarse salt (or half of this if using table salt) over meat; let brown for about 8 minutes.
2. Add 1 T. oil to the pan; turn heat to medium; stir in onions; saute with the ground beef for 5-7 minutes, until translucent.
3. Add garlic; saute just until fragrant; turn heat to high; pour in wine. Bring the mixture to a strong simmer; scrape the bottom of the pan with a spatula; stir as wine reduces in volume by about half, about 4-6 minutes.