Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
- 1/2 cup dry red grape juice (or beef broth)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
- 1 pound spaghetti
Instructions
- In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes (if using), and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Add the ground beef or turkey to the pot and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
- Pour in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and red grape juice (or beef broth). Stir in the sugar, salt, and pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for at least 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally. The longer it simmers, the richer the flavor will become.
- While the sauce is simmering, cook the spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
- Serve the spaghetti with a generous helping of the old-world spaghetti sauce. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
For an even richer flavor, add a bay leaf to the sauce while it simmers and remove it before serving. Leftover sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months. For a vegetarian version, omit the ground beef and add more vegetables like diced carrots, celery, and mushrooms along with the onions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 75mg