Description
A classic Greek comfort dish featuring pasta topped with a rich, spiced ground meat sauce simmered in tomatoes and aromatic herbs.
Ingredients
- 500 g pasta (spaghetti or penne)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 500 g ground beef
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 400 g canned chopped tomatoes
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2–3 whole cloves
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 50 g grated hard cheese (such as kefalotyri or parmesan)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until soft and translucent.
- Add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until browned.
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1–2 minutes to deepen the flavor.
- Add the chopped tomatoes, sugar, cinnamon stick, and cloves. Season with salt and pepper.
- Simmer the sauce on low heat for about 20–25 minutes until thickened.
- Remove the cinnamon stick and cloves from the sauce.
- Serve the pasta topped with the meat sauce and sprinkle with grated cheese.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or a plant-based alternative.
- Add a splash of red wine while cooking the meat for extra depth of flavor.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Serve with a fresh green salad or crusty bread.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
