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Old Italian Meat Sauce

This Italian meat sauce with mushrooms is robust and hearty. Serve over your favorite pasta with Parmesan cheese if desired.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 45 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine Italian
Servings 20 people
Calories 5404.1 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Pot or Dutch Oven For long simmering and combining all ingredients.
  • 1 Large Skillet For browning meats and sautéing aromatics.
  • 1 Cutting Board
  • 1 Chef's knife
  • 1 Wooden Spoon or Heatproof Spatula For stirring and scraping.

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 onions chopped
  • 1 clove garlic crushed
  • 3 cups red wine divided
  • 2 pounds fresh mushrooms sliced
  • 4 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • ¼ teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
  • 3 29 ounce cans tomato sauce
  • 1 6 ounce can tomato paste

Instructions
 

  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Cook beef and pork in the hot skillet until crumbly and no longer pink, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
  • Warm olive oil in another large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onions and garlic in hot oil until onions are tender, about 5 minutes. Pour in 1/2 cup wine; mix well.
  • Add mushrooms, oregano, rosemary, and thyme to onion mixture. Pour in another 1/2 cup wine; cook and stir until mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes.
  • Add browned meat, tomato sauce, and tomato paste to mushroom mixture. Reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hour.
  • Pour in remaining 2 cups wine. Continue simmering for 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally; serve.

Notes

Achieve maximum flavor by ensuring the ground beef and pork are well browned, creating a rich 'fond' at the bottom of the pan. Deglaze thoroughly with the first additions of wine to capture these flavorful bits. Use a good quality, dry red wine for depth, and opt for high-quality canned tomatoes like San Marzano for the best base. The long simmering time is crucial for melding flavors; stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Consider adding a bay leaf during the simmer for an extra aromatic layer, removing it before serving. Taste and adjust seasoning towards the end of the cooking process.