Diane'S Pasta Sauce
Diane's Pasta Sauce offers a rich, savory blend of tomatoes, herbs, and vegetables, perfect for hearty pasta dishes and suitable for family dinners or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
- 1/8 to 1/4 lb. lean (96% fat-free) ground beef ⓘ
- 1 small onion, chopped ⓘ
- 2 cloves garlic, minced ⓘ
- 1 small green pepper, chopped ⓘ
- 1/8 tsp. nutmeg ⓘ
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp. dried basil ⓘ
- 1 (29 oz.) can Italian plum tomatoes, crushed (with juice) ⓘ
- 2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce ⓘ
- 1 cup mushrooms, washed and quartered or 1 (8 oz.) can sliced mushrooms ⓘ
- 2 tsp. sugar ⓘ
- 1 tsp. soy sauce ⓘ
- 2 tsp. red wine vinegar ⓘ
- 2 small bay leaves or 1 large ⓘ
- hot red pepper flakes to taste ⓘ
- 2 to 3 Tbsp. tomato paste ⓘ
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven, put beef, onion, garlic, and green pepper; sauté on medium heat until beef is done.
- Add nutmeg, oregano, and basil; cook for 2 minutes.
- Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, mushrooms, sugar, soy sauce, red wine vinegar, bay leaves, and red pepper flakes; simmer for about 20 minutes.
- Add tomato paste to thicken the sauce; taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
- Simmer for another 10 minutes, tasting again for seasoning adjustments.
- If the sauce is a little bitter, add more sugar or squeeze a little orange juice into the sauce to mellow flavors.
Tips & Substitutions
For a richer flavor, consider adding a splash of red wine while sautéing the vegetables. If you're looking to make this dish vegetarian, substitute the ground beef with lentils or finely chopped mushrooms. For added depth, experiment with different herbs like thyme or rosemary. This sauce can also be enhanced with a pinch of sugar to balance acidity, especially if you're using canned tomatoes.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this delicious pasta sauce over your favorite pasta, like spaghetti or penne, for a hearty meal. It pairs beautifully with crusty bread or a green salad for a complete dinner. For an Italian-inspired feast, consider serving it alongside garlic bread or a side of Basic Basil Tomato Sauce for extra flavor options.
Storage & Reheating
Allow the pasta sauce to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat, gently warm it on the stove over low heat, stirring occasionally, or microwave it in short intervals until heated through.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Diane'S Pasta Sauce contains roughly 410 calories, with 13g protein, 65g carbohydrates, and 15g fat. It is an excellent source of iron (58% of the Daily Value), dietary fiber (46% of the Daily Value), and vitamin D (40% of the Daily Value), and a good source of vitamin A. Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 473mg per serving (21% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of canned?
Yes, you can use fresh tomatoes! You'll need about 2 pounds of ripe tomatoes. Blanch them in boiling water, peel, and crush them before adding to the sauce. Fresh tomatoes will give a different texture and flavor but will make a delicious sauce.
How can I make this sauce spicier?
To add more heat, increase the amount of hot red pepper flakes according to your taste. Alternatively, you can add diced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce while the sauce simmers to elevate the spice level.
Is this sauce suitable for freezing?
Absolutely! This pasta sauce freezes well. Just cool it completely, then store in freezer-safe containers. When ready to use, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently on the stove. It's perfect for quick meals any time!
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).