Fauzia's Kitchen Fun

Penne Pasta with Meat Sauce

125

Penne Pasta with Meat Sauce

A very basic pasta that is coated with a delicious meat sauce.
Servings 5 people

Ingredients
  

  • 500 gm minced beef
  • 500 gm pasta
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 1 tsp garlic paste
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning blend of dried basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, marjoram, and savory - or any Italian spice available
  • dash of red pepper flakes
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 fresh basil leaves chopped
  • 2 1/2 cups canned chunky tomato sauce fresh tomatoes blended slightly plus 2 tsp. tomato paste
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh coriander

Instructions
 

  • Heat olive oil in a very large skillet on medium heat. Add the chopped onion, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened. Add the garlic, season with salt and pepper. Cook for an additional minute, until the garlic is fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.
    Heat a large frying pan on high heat. Salt the bottom of the pan generously. Once the pan is hot, break up small chunks of ground beef and add them to the pan, without stirring. (You may need to work in batches; do not crowd the pan.) You want the meat to get well browned. If the pan is too hot and the meat is burning, not browning, take the pan off the heat for a little, and reduce the heat to medium high. Once the meat is browned on one side (a couple of minutes), use a spatula to flip the meat over to brown on the other side.
    Use a slotted spoon to lift the meat from the pan and add it to the pan with the seasoned onions. Add tomato sauce. Use the edge of your metal spatula to break up the bigger chunks of meat into smaller pieces. Add basil. Add a teaspoon of sugar. Bring to a simmer on low heat, let cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
    Once the sauce has simmered for 15 minutes, adjust seasoning. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add a little more sugar if the sauce is too acidic. Add more tomato sauce if the sauce is a little dry.
    Boil pasta as per packet directions. Drain then stir in the cooked penne pasta. Sprinkle with chopped parsley. Serve immediately.
    Enjoy! 

Join the Conversation

  1. when i try to open ur web site most of the time i get the msg ‘server is busy’ pls see whats wrong

    1. Hi, the ready-made kind or
      Hi, the ready-made kind or home-made? You can add it in place of the tomatoes. 🙂

  2. Thank you for this recipe. My
    Thank you for this recipe. My husband loves penne. I never used tomato sauce or paste. I always use readymade pasta sauce from the supermarket. I believe that pasta sauce gives it a rich flavor. It turns out delicious.
    JazakAllah

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