stovetop tomato pasta sauces

2015-02-03 a.o.

If tomato sauce has ground meat in it, I'll call it pasta sauce, no matter what it is served it with.

These are all variations of the Italian Sauce bolognaise. The basic method is the same, regardless of the source animal: Stew tomatoes, pan-fry the ground meat, combine, simmer down. Frying the meat is not required, but it does enhance the meat flavor a lot.

There's a shelf with pasta sauces in every grocery store these days. If you don't want to spend your time stewing down tomatoes, by all means get one you like. I do too occasionally.

Be careful with fresh rosemary. It has a powerful and very dominant flavor. I used 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary and removed them after barely 3 minutes. Yet that was enough to flavor 2+ quarts of sauce very strongly. I like those big flavors, but not everyone does. Use only to your personal taste.

Lamb's meat also has a very strong flavor. I like lamb a lot, but even I had to brace myself a bit for this one.

INGREDIENTS

This is what you need for 6+ servings:

6 lbs. (organic) tomatoes
1 lb. ground meat
1 onion
1 bell pepper
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, 5" each
celery, 2 stalks
S&P

Pic1: bison pasta sauce — 2019-08-15

Directions

Make tomato sauce:

Clean, core, slice the tomatoes.
Transfer to a large pot.
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.
Pass through food mill or sieve to remove seeds and peels.
Bring to a boil again. Simmer to reduce to about 25-30% of original volume.
This depends on type of tomato. Sauce should be fairly thick.
Alternatively, buy a jar of prepared pasta sauce.

Cook the meat:

Chop the onion, celery and bell pepper coarsely.
Sauté in some olive oil.
Add the meat and cook over high heat until the meat starts browning.
The browner the meat, the meatier the sauce.
When the meat is fully cooked, combine with the sauce.
Continue to simmer gently over low heat until the sauce thickens to desired consistency.
Sauce should be thick and cling to the spoon. (Pic7)

Cook the pasta:

Cook the pasta according to directions on the package.
Drain when cooked to your preference.
Optional:
- Stir in some oil or butter to prevent the pasta from sticking together.
Serve immediately. Enjoy.

Serving suggestions:

Serve in a large bowl. Pour the sauce over the pasta.
If desired, add cheese and stir it all together.

2019-08-15

Pic2: stir-fry ground meat
Pic3: add tomatoes
Pic4: simmer down

2017-12-21

Pic5: tomatoes, rosemary
Pic6: add stir-fried ground meat
Pic7: simmer down

Pic8: rosemary tomato sauce — 2017-12-21
Pic9: beef sauce over bread — 2015-02-03
Pic10: lamb sauce — 2016-05-15

See also: Deming, NM gardens, animals and more and avemariasongs.org

See also: Deming, NM gardens, animals and more
and avemariasongs.org