minced meat sauce

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Intensity: Easy

This Minced Meat Sauce is a versatile and hearty recipe that works perfectly for pasta, rice, or even as a topping for baked potatoes or a filling for tacos. It’s packed with flavor, made with minced beef (or pork, chicken, or turkey), tomatoes, and a blend of herbs and spices. The best part is that you can easily make it in your Thermomix, saving time and effort!

Ingredients:

• 500g minced beef (or pork, chicken, or turkey)

• 1 onion, peeled and halved

• 2 cloves garlic, peeled

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 carrot, peeled and chopped

• 1 celery stalk, chopped

• 1 can (400g) crushed tomatoes

• 1 tablespoon tomato paste

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1 teaspoon dried basil

• 1 teaspoon paprika (optional, for extra flavor)

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

• 1/2 cup (120ml) beef or vegetable broth (or water)

• 1 tablespoon sugar (optional, to balance acidity)

• Fresh basil (optional, for garnish)

Method:

Step 1: Prepare the Vegetables

1. Chop the Vegetables
   Place the onion (1) and garlic (2 cloves) into the Thermomix bowl. Chop for 5 seconds on speed 5 until finely minced.

2. Chop Carrot and Celery
   Add the carrot (1) and celery (1 stalk) to the bowl. Chop for 5-7 seconds on speed 5 to finely dice the vegetables.

Step 2: Cook the Vegetables

3. Sauté the Vegetables
   Add olive oil (1 tbsp) to the Thermomix bowl. Sauté the vegetables for 3 minutes at 120°C on speed 1. Use the spatula to assist in stirring occasionally to avoid burning.

Step 3: Cook the Minced Meat

4. Add the Minced Meat
   Add the minced meat (500g) to the bowl with the sautéed vegetables. Cook for 5 minutes at 100°C on reverse speed 1. This will help break the meat into small bits and ensure it cooks through.

Step 4: Add the Sauce Ingredients

5. Add the Sauce Ingredients
   After the meat is cooked, add the crushed tomatoes (1 can), tomato paste (1 tbsp), oregano (1 tsp), basil (1 tsp), paprika (1 tsp, optional), salt (1/2 tsp), and black pepper (1/4 tsp). Stir with the spatula to combine.

6. Add Broth and Sugar
   Pour in the broth (120ml) and sugar (1 tbsp, optional). The sugar helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes.

Step 5: Simmer the Sauce

7. Simmer the Sauce
   Set the Thermomix to 15 minutes at 100°C on reverse speed 1. If you prefer a thicker sauce, let it cook a bit longer. You can also adjust the seasoning to taste at this stage, adding more salt or pepper if necessary.

8. Check Consistency
   After 15 minutes, check the sauce. If it’s too thin, cook it for an additional 5-10 minutes without the measuring cup on top, allowing the sauce to thicken.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

9. Serve the Sauce
   Once your minced meat sauce is cooked, serve it over your favorite pasta, rice, or as a filling for tacos or a baked potato. You can garnish with fresh basil or grated cheese if you like.

Tips for Perfect Minced Meat Sauce:

• Add more vegetables: You can add other vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, or mushrooms for extra flavor and nutrition.

• Spice it up: If you like your sauce with a bit of heat, add chili flakes or fresh chili along with the other spices.

• Make it a meatball sauce: You can form the minced meat into small meatballs and cook them directly in the sauce for a meatball version of this dish. Just make the meatballs and follow the same steps, but cook for 25 minutes instead of 15.

• Store leftovers: The sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information (Per Serving, based on 4 servings):

• Calories: 320 kcal

• Fat: 18g

• Saturated Fat: 5g

• Carbohydrates: 10g

• Sugars: 7g

• Protein: 28g

• Fiber: 3g

• Sodium: 500mg

Note: Nutrition values are approximate and may vary depending on specific ingredients used. For more precise nutritional information, use a recipe calculator.

Final Thoughts:

This Minced Meat Sauce made in the Thermomix is a quick, easy, and versatile dish that can be served with many different meals. The Thermomix simplifies the preparation and cooking process, so you can have a rich, flavorful sauce ready in no time. Whether you’re using it for pasta, rice, or even a filling for sandwiches, this hearty sauce will be a family favorite! Enjoy!