Spaghetti and Meat Sauce - Alton Brown Recipe - Food.com (2024)

2

Submitted by DrGaellon

"Taken from Brown's _Good Eats_ episode "American Classics: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce." He insists on freshly ground meat from whole cuts, so you know exactly what you're getting; he has the butcher grind it for him, but you can do it yourself if you have the equipment. Be sure to use a WHITE wine for the sweetness and bright acidity; a red will tend to get astringent with this kind of cooking."

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Ready In:
5hrs 50mins

Ingredients:
27
Serves:

6

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ingredients

  • 6 ounces thick-cut bacon, cut into 1-inch strips
  • 2 medium onions, finely chopped
  • 12 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 12 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 whole star anise
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 12 lb boneless beef chuck roast, ground coarse
  • 12 lb boneless pork butt, ground coarse
  • 1 14 cups white wine, divided
  • 3 celery ribs, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 34 cup evaporated milk
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1 ounce dried porcini mushrooms, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, sliced
  • 2 (28 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons dried marjoram
  • 2 teaspoons dried basil
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon sherry wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 12 lb spaghetti
  • 13 cup grated parmesan cheese

directions

  • Set an 8 qt cast iron Dutch oven over low heat and add the bacon. Cook until the fat renders and the bacon is crispy. Transfer bacon to a paper-towel lined plate.
  • Add onion, salt and pepper to fat in pot. Place star anise and cloves in a small cotton spice bag (or wrap in cheesecloth); lay the flat of a chef's knife across the spices and smash your fist on the blade to crack them (or use a mallet). Add the spice bag to the pot as well. Cook over low heat until onions break down and caramelize, about 45 minutes, stirring every few minutes.
  • Place a 4 qt saute pan over high heat and add 1 tbsp olive oil. When oil begins to emit wisps of smoke, add beef and pork. Stir constantly for 4-5 minutes until the meat is brown and broken into small chunks. Transfer to a colander set over a bowl. Return the saute pan to the high heat.
  • Deglaze saute pan with 1/2 cup white wine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. When wine has reduced by half, turn off the heat.
  • When onions are mahogany brown, add celery and minced garlic. Cook over low heat for 30 minutes, until intensely fragrant. Remove and discard the spice bag.
  • Add the meat and reduced wine to Dutch oven. Add another 1/2 cup white wine, evaporated milk and beef broth. Add porcinis. Cook very slowly over low heat, covered, for 3 hours, stirring every 30 minutes.
  • Add 1 tbsp olive oil to saute pan and heat until shimmering over medium heat. Add sliced garlic and saute until fragrant, 30-45 seconds. Add tomatoes (with any juice in the cans), along with oregano, marjoram and basil. Cook over medium heat until most of the liquid evaporates, 25-30 minutes.
  • Reduce heat to low and add tomato paste, ketchup, sherry vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and 1/4 cup white wine. Simmer 30 minutes.
  • Add 1 tbsp olive oil to tomatoes and turn heat up to medium high. Stir vigorously and constantly for 2-3 minutes. Add tomatoes to meat mixture. Continue to simmer over low heat, uncovered, while preparing pasta.
  • Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a deep, narrow pot. Add salt. Add spaghetti when water is at a rolling boil. Stir for a few minutes to minimize sticking, then reduce heat to keep a steady but not violent boil. Start checking after 5 minutes; the pasta should be not-quite al dente; there should still be a little crunch in the center. Drain the pasta and add to the meat sauce, along with parmesan cheese. Cook another 4-5 minutes until pasta is al dente.

Questions & Replies

Spaghetti and Meat Sauce - Alton Brown Recipe - Food.com (5)

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Reviews

  1. This is the real thing.... well worth the time and effort. So if you feel you would like to have a real classic "Bolognese sauce" this is the one for you. You will also get the side benefit of being able to split it up into containers and freeze for later use when you need something quick. So that all said I have to admit I do have my own Kitchenaid Mixer Mincer attachment so I do look for great Beef Chuck and Boston Butt (Shoulder). I like to use the wider mincer attachment when grinding the meat , plus I do use at least 1 lb of each. Why not?<br/><br/>The rest is easy just follow the Recipe.... I will take time to prepare so shop for your ingredients in advance and set aside the the time to cook this........ I check taste as I proceed, I prefer a little more sweetness so I do add a 1-2 Tbs of brown sugar to up the sweetness of the tomato side.....

    mfjleahy

  2. I invested an entire afternoon with this, followed the directions carefully and was a bit disappointed. The sauce was ok...not amazing, not fabulous....NOT worth the time spent making it

    shelley.harcar

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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

DrGaellon

New Rochelle, 0

  • 80 Followers
  • 1399 Recipes
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I'm a 48 y/o gay Jewish man in the suburbs immediately north of New York City. I'm a general internist, practicing and teaching at a medical college north of NYC. I also earned a Masters in Public Health degree in 2013.After a Walt Disney World trip in Dec 2006 where I had to rent an electric scooter because I couldn't manage the walking, I decided to have gastric bypass surgery, which was done Feb 28, 2007. I lost 160 lbs (though I've gained back about 60 of that since). I can't eat as much as I used to, so I want every bite to be extra good!

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Spaghetti and Meat Sauce - Alton Brown Recipe  - Food.com (2024)

FAQs

How do you make Paula Deen's spaghetti sauce? ›

In a stockpot, combine the tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, onions, peppers, garlic, parsley, seasoning mixtures, sugar, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil over high heat, and then reduce the heat and let simmer, covered, for 1 hour.

Do you cook the meat before putting it in spaghetti sauce? ›

Combine ground beef, onion, garlic, and green pepper in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook and stir until meat is browned and crumbly and vegetables are tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain grease. Stir diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste into the pan.

How to make pasta sauce taste like restaurant? ›

Tossing in strips of basil, a sprig of thyme or some oregano can take your sauce to the next level. Although fresh herbs might pop a bit more, dried herbs and spices can work just as well. Sprinkling in some red pepper flakes, a pinch of parsley and a dash of salt and pepper can liven up your jarred pasta sauce.

Do you brown meat before adding to spaghetti sauce? ›

The ground beef should be cooked separately before adding it to the spaghetti sauce. By cooking it separately, you have better control over the browning process and can ensure that it cooks evenly. Once the ground beef is fully cooked, drain any excess grease and then add it to your simmering spaghetti sauce.

What to add to jar spaghetti sauce to make it taste homemade? ›

Add fresh herbs (basil, oregano, rosemary, bay leaf), and let them simmer to give a punch of fresh flavor.

What pasta sauce does Bobby Flay use? ›

Simplify cooking with Simply Sugo, a quality pre-made sauce

Bobby Flay takes pasta and sauce seriously. His appreciation of Italian cuisine is no secret.

Is it better to simmer spaghetti sauce with lid on or off? ›

Cooking the tomato sauce over a low and steady heat with the lid on is essential to obtain a pleasantly thick consistency. The lid keeps the moisture inside the pan, preventing the sauce from drying out too quickly. The low heat then allows the flavours to develop gradually, slowly softening the vegetables.

How to season meat for spaghetti? ›

Season ground beef with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, add the beef and chopped onion and brown. Drain excess grease. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, parsley, garlic powder, crushed red pepper, worcestershire, and sugar to the skillet.

Do you drain hamburger meat before adding spaghetti sauce? ›

Although using a lean beef like ground sirloin already cuts some of the fat, draining the meat is one more smart step to preventing a greasy sauce.

Why add cream cheese to spaghetti sauce? ›

It may sound a little unusual to add cream cheese to a pasta recipe, but it adds a tangy note and rich creaminess to the sauce. You can also add extra seasonings and other ingredients to the base recipe to fit your personal taste.

What to put in spaghetti to make it taste better? ›

8 Ways to Elevate Canned Spaghetti Sauce
  1. 1 - Extra virgin olive oil. Adding a good amount of a flavorful olive oil will go a long way in infusing flavor into your sauce. ...
  2. 2 - Fresh garlic. ...
  3. 3 - Meat. ...
  4. 4 - Hot pepper flakes. ...
  5. 5 - Red wine. ...
  6. 6 - Fresh or dried herbs. ...
  7. 7 - Cheese. ...
  8. 8 - Cream and/or butter.
Feb 26, 2018

What does adding butter to tomato sauce do? ›

Add butter

Yes, that's right. Toss in a few tablespoons of butter, and let it melt into the sauce. If you've never tried it before, it might seem strange, but a little butter makes tomato sauce rich and smooth, and also balances out too much acidity, which is common in jarred sauces.

Should garlic be sauteed before adding to spaghetti sauce? ›

Allow the garlic to cook for just 30 to 60 seconds before adding liquid or other ingredients to the pot. This is our best practice when cooking just about anything with minced garlic—from chili to pasta sauce to vegetable soup.

Why do you put milk in spaghetti sauce? ›

It sounds unconventional to use milk in a meaty red sauce, but upon further investigation, it makes total sense why Italians swear by it. According to our Food Director Amira, not only does milk add a rich flavour to the bolognese, but it also “helps cut through the acidity of the tomatoes and red wine”.

Do you rinse spaghetti before adding sauce? ›

Do Not Rinse. Pasta should never, ever be rinsed for a warm dish. The starch in the water is what helps the sauce adhere to your pasta. The only time you should ever rinse your pasta is when you are going to use it in a cold dish like a pasta salad or when you are not going to use it immediately.

What makes homemade spaghetti sauce watery? ›

This could happen when you add too much pasta water into your sauce, and you accidentally drown the thick sauce with the starchy water (happens to the best of us). I find that this happens to me most often when I'm making quick sauces, like a meat sauce or light marinara that hasn't had the time to simmer.

How to make pasta sauce from a jar? ›

Simply pour the sauce into a small saucepan while you're going about boiling your pasta. Let it come to a boil, then reduce the heat so that the sauce gently bubbles. Keep the simmer going for about 10 minutes or so, until you've noticed that the sauce has reduced and thickened a little, but is still saucy.

What spaghetti sauce does Ina Garten use? ›

"I think you can spend the entire day making good marinara sauce, or you can buy Rao's marinara sauce, which I think is just fantastic," Garten told Bon Appétit. Rao's marinara sauce is regarded by many professional cooks and food media outlets as one of the best tomato sauces you can get in a jar (via Serious Eats).

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