Healthy whole wheat spaghetti with meat sauce

Everyone has a recipe they make in a pinch out of what's in the cupboard. Mine is spaghetti and meat sauce, since we always have ground venison in the freezer and healthy, whole wheat pasta and canned tomato sauce on hand.

It took awhile to get the family used to whole wheat noodles. (Our two favorite brands are Barilla and Pasta Garofalo.) But now I rarely hear a complaint, especially when I make venison meat sauce from scratch. As my 10-year-old son, Nathan likes to say, "Mom, my compliments to the chef!"

Healthy meat sauce

This recipe is loosely based on the homemade sauce my husband made for me on our first date.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 to 3 large cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 to 1 1/2 pounds ground lean meat such as venison, buffalo or turkey
• 3-15 ounce jars of canned tomato sauce, such as Muir Glen Organic's No Salt Added Tomato Sauce, 15 oz.
• 3 cans of Muir Glen Organic's Diced Tomatoes No Salt Added, 14.5 oz
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup of a hearty, red wine (Cabernet, Shiraz or Merlot)
• 2 teaspoons of dried basil
• 3 teaspoons of dried oregano
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large sauce pan over medium to medium high heat.
2. Add minced garlic and cook for a minute.
3. Add ground meat and cook until meat has browned. Break up any large pieces with a spoon as it cooks.
4. Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, wine, basil, and oregano. Salt and pepper to taste.
5. Bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer while you cook the pasta and set the table.

Variations:

• All ingredient portions are totally to taste. Add more (or less) garlic or basil, if you like. Wine is optional, but I find it takes the acidity of the tomatoes down without having to add sugar or honey.
• Substitute fresh herbs for dried ones. Add other herbs like parsley.
• You can add a chopped onion and/or sliced mushrooms along with the garlic, if you like.
• Try Muir Glen Organic's Chunky Tomato Sauce, Fire Roasted Crushed Tomatoes, Diced Tomatoes with Basil and Garlic, Diced Tomatoes with Garlic and Onion or  Diced Tomatoes with Italian Herbs. Adjust seasonings appropriately.

This Mama's tips

• The sauce tastes better the longer you simmer it. It also tastes better the next day.

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Posted on July 16, 2010 in Recipes,Venison and tagged as ground meat, healthy recipes

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