Meat Sauce – Leveled-Up

1lb Pasta – Meat sauce is typically best with rigatoni because the meat gets stuck in the middle making each bit a burst of joy.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2lb of ground beef

1/2lb of hot sausage meat – Sausage links are fine, just remove the casing and break up the meat.

1/4lb diced panchetta

1/2 onion finely diced

6-8 cloves of garlic finely diced

Salt and Pepper

1 tsp fennel seeds

1 tsp ground sage

1 cup of red wine

1 cup of organic beef broth

1 28oz can diced tomatoes

1/2 cup of reserved pasta water

1/2 cup of grated parmsean

Directions

Cook pasta 1 minute less than cooking directions and reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water and set aside

Heat EVOO in sauce pot and add diced onion. Sauté for 2-3 minutes and salt through. Add diced pancetta and cook till almost crisp. 4-6 mins.

Add garlic and cook till fragrant stirring often. 1-2 mins.

Add ground beef, hot sausage, salt, pepper, fennel seeds, and sage. Cook breaking up with a wooden spoon, a potato masher, or even better a meat masher. (The latest addition to my utensils and it makes breaking up meat so easy.)

Add wine, beef broth, tomatoes and bring to a boil than simmer for 20-30 mins stirring occasionally.

Add pasta, pasta water, cheese and mix.

Serve with a little extra cheese on top.

My Advice: Make it for company. Its sure to be a crowd pleaser and it really is super simple. (Which is always my goal)