Get ready to savor a pot of pure comfort with Chef Trips’ Healthier Italian Meat Sauce!This slow-simmered masterpiece blends lean ground beef and Italian sausage with a rich tomato base, kissed with herbs and a touch of natural sweetness from stevia or carrots, no refined sugar needed.Packed with mushrooms, onions, and peppers, it’s a wholesome, multi-layered flavor-bomb sauce perfect for spaghetti, lasagna, or even a cozy meatball sub. Cooked low and slow for up to 6 hours, this dish brings bold, soulful vibes to your table with a Chez Trips twist.Check out the video for pro tips and make it BEAUTIFUL!
1tbspof Salt, to tastesubstistute with natural sea salt, or pink salt
1tbspof Black pepper, to taste
2tbspof crushed Red pepperdivided
1tbspof Sugarsubstitute with stevia, or one skinned Carrot (the natural sweetness will help offset the acidity, remove before serving)
2tbspof Balsamic vinegar
1tbspof Soy sauceadd for the last hour and a half of cooking
1tbspof Worcestershire sauce
⅓cupof grated Parmesan or Romano Cheese
1cupof chopped Mushrooms
2tbspof unsalted Butter
Instructions
Place a large stockpot over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add the olive oil, sausage, and beef, breaking them up.
Once the chunks of meat are broken apart, add two tsp of the salt, black pepper, 1 tbsp of the crushed red pepper, basil, and oregano.
Mix in the green pepper, one of the onions, then sauté for a few minutes until they soften a bit, then add the garlic.
Mix in the balsamic vinegar.
Cook until most, or all, of the grease cooks out of the pot. Stir often to prevent burning.
Add the tomato paste (rinse the can with a bit of water) to the meats and vegetables, mix well.
Add tomato sauce, or crushed tomatoes. Rinse cans with just a little water and add to the sauce.
Mix in the remaining basil, oregano, sea salt, crushed red pepper, and the black pepper (don’t over-season, you can always add more later).
Add the Worcestershire sauce, the sweetener of your choice, carrots, or the stevia.
Lower the heat to low for a gentle simmer, and cover with a splatter guard or top.
Stir every 15 minutes for the next 6 or so hours, scraping the bottom and sides around the pot (make sure to hold the pot firmly and be aware that the splattering sauce is very hot).
Add the remaining diced onion to stir #3.
Taste often to see if more seasonings are necessary.
Add the mushrooms during the last two hours of cooking.
Mix in the soy sauce for the last 1 ½ of cooking.
Once the sauce is done, turn off the heat, remove carrots if using, and mix in the cheese.
Mix in the butter to melt while the sauce is still hot.
Serve over pasta of your choice.
Store in a sealed container for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 6 months.