Ingredients
The Pantry Basics:
The Seasonings:
To Serve:
Instructions
- Brown the Meat: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook beef and sausage until no longer pink; drain.
- Slow Cook: Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker. Stir in green pepper, onion, garlic, tomatoes, tomato sauce, paste, sugar and seasonings; mix well.
- Simmer: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until bubbly.
- Serve: Serve over spaghetti.
Yield: 12 servings
Prep Time: 15-Minute Prep or Less
For Nutritional And Health Benefits
This dish is an extremely balanced and nutritious meal packed with protein and essential minerals that plays a vital role in providing energy to the human body. Beef and Italian sausage provide the body with high-quality protein essential for muscle growth and repair, while the zinc and iron they contain help combat anemia. Since this recipe uses a large amount of tomatoes, it becomes an excellent source of a powerful antioxidant called lycopene, which helps improve heart health and boost immunity against various diseases. Bell peppers, onions, and garlic not only provide vitamin C and vitamin B6 but their anti-inflammatory compounds also help control blood pressure and strengthen the digestive system. When this tangy, thick sauce is served with spaghetti, it provides the body with complex carbohydrates that keep you feeling full for a long time, making this dish a healthy and complete meal for the whole family.
For Pro Tips And Substitute Ingredients
The kitchen's biggest secret to making that particular dish absolutely perfect and flavorful is to thoroughly sear the meat in a wok over low heat before cooking, then completely drain off the excess oil. This way, the fat doesn't float to the surface of the sauce and the flavor stays intact. A common mistake when cooking is not properly draining the water from the tomato pieces, which makes the sauce too thin, so straining the tomatoes is essential. Cooking it on a low heat for up to eight hours allows the flavors of herbs like basil and marjoram to fully infuse into the sauce, enhancing its aroma. If you want to make this recipe healthier and lower in calories, you can use finely chopped chicken or ostrich mince instead of beef, and if you don't want to use sugar, you can replace it with pure honey or grated carrot, which will naturally counteract the acidity of the tomatoes. balance it.
For Serving And Storing
Serve the prepared hot dish over boiled pasta, sprinkle with grated cheese, and accompany it with a fresh salad of green leaves dressed with olive oil and lemon juice, along with garlic bread—an excellent choice that further enhances its traditional flavor. If you have leftovers, the best way to store them is to keep the sauce and spaghetti in separate airtight containers rather than mixing them together; this keeps the sauce perfectly fresh in the fridge for up to four days, and you can also freeze it. The best way to reheat leftovers is to warm the sauce on the stove over low heat with a little water or broth to maintain its consistency, and to blanch the pasta in boiling water for just one minute before removing it. This way, the pasta's crispness and tenderness won't be compromised at all, and the dish will taste like it was freshly cooked.
