Ingredients
- 2 TB good olive oil, plus extra to cook pasta
- 1 pound lean ground sirloin
- 4 tsp minced garlic (4 cloves)
- 1 TB dried oregano
- 1/4 ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (I will use 1/8 tsp next time for the kids)
- 1 1/4 1 ¼ cups dry red wine, divided
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes, preferably San Marzano
- 2 TB tomato paste
- Kosher salt & black pepper
- 3/4 ¾ pound dried pasta, such as orecchiette or small shells (I used 1 pound)
- 1/4 ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 ¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves, lightly packed
- 1/4 ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1/2 ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
Preparation
Step 1
Heat 2 TB of olive oil in a large (12 inch) skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground sirloin and cook, crumbling the meat with a wooden spoon, for 5-7 minutes, until the meat has lost its pink color and has started to brown. Stir in the garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 more mintue. Pour 1 cup of the wine into the skillet and stir to scrape up any browned bits. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, 1 TB salt, and 1 ½ tsp pepper, stirring until combined. Bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil, add a tablespoon of salt, a splash of oil, and the pasta, and cook according to the directions on the box.
While the pasta cooks, finish the sauce. Add the nutmeg, basil, cream, and the remaining ¼ cup wine to the sauce and simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened. When the pasta is cooked, drain and pour into a large serving bowl. Add the sauce and ½ cup Parmesan and toss well. Serve hot with Parmesan on the side.
Serves 4-5