Classic Brooklyn-Italian Meat Sauce

Serve over cooked pasta.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Yields: 3 quarts

Ingredients

• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 1⁄2 cup  finely minced garlic
• 1⁄2 lb onion, peeled and finely minced
• 1  carrot, peeled and finely minced
• 1  stalk celery, finely minced
• 3  lbs ground beef
•  salt
• 2 (28 ounce) cans tomatoes with juice
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1  teaspoon sugar
• 2  tablespoons dried oregano

Directions

1. Add olive oil to a large pot over medium-high heat; allow time for the oil to heat.
2. Add in the garlic and onions; stir/saute for 5 minutes.
3. Add in the carrots and celery; stir/saute for 5 minutes.
4. Push the vegetables to one side of the pot and add about 1/3 of the ground beef; salt the beef to taste.
5. Cook about 3-5 minutes or until starts to brown (stir the beef, breaking it up as you stir).
6. Push beef to the side (or over the vegetables) and repeat with the second third of the beef.
7. After that starts to brown, push it aside and repeat with the remainder of the beef.
8. When all the beef is done, mix the beef and vegetables together.
9. Add in the tomatoes with juice, tomato paste, sugar, and oregano.
10. Mix well; simmer for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally (break up the tomatoes against the side of the pot as you stir).
11. When the sauce is done, season to taste with salt and pepper.
12. Serve immediately or freeze for later use.