Spaghetti with Meat and Tomato Sauce

Main Ingredients:

Spaghetti: 1 lb (500 gr)
Water: 6 quarts (6 liters)
Salt: 2 tbsp


Sauce Ingredients:

Ground beef: 1/2 lb (250 gr)
Garlic: 2 cloves, minced
Olive oil: 2 tbsp
Fresh basil: 2 tbsp, chopped
Tomato paste: 1-2 tbsp
Tomato puree: 3 cups
Salt and Pepper to taste


Directions:

1. To make the sauce, heat a large frying pan on medium-high heat. Add the olive oil to the pan and wait for the oil to heat up. Lower the temperature to medium.

2. Add minced garlic to the pan and fry for 30 seconds or until softened. Add ground beef and saute for 5 minutes or until no longer pink.

3. Add tomato paste and mix well. Continue cooking for 1-2 more minutes.

4. Add tomato puree and simmer until reduced by half. Stir occasionally. Season with salt and pepper. Leave on low heat.

5. In the meantime, pour water and salt into a large pot. Water should taste a bit salty but not too much. Bring it to a rapid boil.

6. Add spaghetti and cook al dente. Al dente means that the pasta has cooked through but still has a bit of bite.

7. Keep one cup of the pasta water. Drain the pasta. Do not rinse the pasta or the sauce won't stick to it.

8. Increase the heat under the sauce to medium. Add some of the reserved pasta water if needed and stir well.

9. Add the chopped basil to the sauce and stir well. Add pasta to the sauce and mix well.

10. Serve in pre-warmed plates. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.