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Spaghetti is a pasta that once cooked and served with a sauce makes a delicious dish that is perfect for family dinners or events. If you are not in the mood for bolognaise, carbonara or Neapolitan, this article will teach you how to prepare quick Italian spaghetti, and will have you serving up fantastic portions in no time.
Ingredients
- 1lb of ground beef or Italian sweet or hot sausage cut up in 3/4" pieces (optional)
- 2 large cans of crushed tomatoes
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, diced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 tbs dried parsley flakes or a small handful of fresh parsley
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp ground black pepper (adjust to taste)
- Olive oil
- 1 lb dried spaghetti
- Optional flaked Parmesan cheese
- Optional 1 diced bell pepper
- Optional 4 ounces diced mushrooms (or an 8 ounce can)
Steps
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1Put on a pot of water to boil with 8-12 cups of water. While it is heating, cook your sauce:
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2Heat up 2 table spoons of olive oil in a separate pot heat on medium heat.Advertisement
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3Sauté your sausage or ground beef until browned (drain and return to pot), then add bell peppers and mushrooms and cook until lightly cooked.
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4Add onions into the pot, continue sauteing until edges are browned. Then add fresh diced garlic and cook another minute (overcooked garlic is bitter and loses its flavor).
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5Add canned tomato and spices, stir and let it simmer for 15 to 20 min.
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6Add the spaghetti pasta to water in the first pot when it is boiling. Add 1 tsp of salt.
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7Stir gently and constantly to keep it from sticking together.
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8Let the spaghetti boil for 7-10 min or until it is firm but cooked to your liking. Fresh spaghetti will cook quicker than dried pasta strands. Once the spaghetti is done, drain it.
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9Mix with sauce and serve immediately.Advertisement
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow many sticks of pasta should I use for one serving?
Community AnswerIt's better to weigh your pasta instead of trying to count it. Aim for around 80 g per person, give or take. -
QuestionIs this okay to freeze?
QamarTop AnswererYes. Feel free to freeze the spaghetti in a container closed tightly with a lid. It can last up to a month. -
QuestionCan I make some salad too?
Community AnswerYes, of course! Salad is a great side for pastas. -
QuestionDo I have to add the sauce at the end?
Community AnswerYes. You must mix the sauce and spaghetti at the end thoroughly. -
QuestionWhat spices would be good to add to this dish?Community AnswerParsley flakes, basil and dried oregano will give it that 'Italian' feel. Black pepper could also help.
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QuestionIs this easy to make?
Amy HarrisonTop AnswererYes, spaghetti is one of the easiest (and cheapest) foods to make. This is a good recipe for a quick dinner or lunch on-the-go.
Warnings
- Try not too use meats that are very heavy unless you have a thick sauce, as this can overwhelm the dish.Thanks!
About This Article
To make spaghetti with Italian-style sauce, start by bringing a pot of water to a boil and heating some olive oil in a separate pot over medium heat. Then, saute sausage or ground beef in the pot with the oil until it's brown all the way through. Next, add mushrooms, onions, garlic, peppers, and canned tomatoes to the pot with the meat and simmer everything for 15-20 minutes. Finally, while the sauce is simmering, cook some spaghetti in the boiling water for 7-10 minutes. To learn how to season your Italian-style sauce, scroll down!
