Embark on a culinary journey with our comprehensive guide to preparing the delectable "Rita's Pasta and Meat Sauce". This enticing dish tantalizes taste buds with its rich, flavorful sauce, perfectly complemented by tender pasta. Whether you're an experienced home cook or just starting out, this article will provide you with the necessary knowledge and insights to recreate this classic dish in your own kitchen. Discover the secrets behind Rita's renowned sauce, from selecting the finest ingredients to mastering the delicate balance of seasonings. Along the way, you'll uncover tips and tricks for achieving the perfect pasta texture and techniques for creating a visually appealing presentation that will impress your family and friends.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
RITA'S PASTA AND MEAT SAUCE
This dish is great for kids and adults. There's a sweetness to the meat sauce that kids love and then they don't seem to mind that there are veggies in the sauce...
Provided by Rita
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta
Time 50m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- In a large skillet over medium heat, combine ground beef, onion and garlic. Cook until meat is evenly brown. Drain excess fat. Stir in carrots, bell pepper, diced tomatoes and stewed tomatoes with juice. Season with onion powder, parsley, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Cover, and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce and sugar. Simmer 15 minutes more.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain. Toss pasta with meat sauce until evenly coated, and serve with crumbled Gorgonzola.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 790.9 calories, Carbohydrate 84.8 g, Cholesterol 107.7 mg, Fat 35.6 g, Fiber 7 g, Protein 35.4 g, SaturatedFat 14.6 g, Sodium 1255.3 mg, Sugar 17.9 g
PASTA WITH MEAT SAUCE
Provided by Michael Symon : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 1h20m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and add the oil. When hot, add the meat and cook, without stirring, until browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Break it up with a wooden spoon, then add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until starting to soften, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the wine and bring to a simmer. Add the crushed tomatoes and oregano and season with salt and pepper. Simmer until thickened and the flavors come together, about 1 hour.
- About 20 minutes before the sauce is done, bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt liberally. Drop in the pasta, give it a stir and cook until al dente according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta and add it to the sauce. Remove from the heat, toss in the cheese and serve.
RITA'S CHICKEN PARMESAN
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the salt. Add the pasta and cook until al dente.
- While the pasta is cooking, pound the chicken breasts between 2 pieces of plastic wrap with the flat side of a meat mallet. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
- In a shallow dish, whisk together the egg whites and salt and pepper. Add a splash of water if the mixture is too thick. Place bread crumbs in a shallow dish.
- Dip the chicken first in the egg white and then in the bread crumbs. Let the chicken rest on a rack for 5 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning once, until lightly golden, about 3 to 4 minutes per side (to reduce the calories even further, bake the chicken at 350 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes instead of sauteing the chicken in oil).
- Place a thin coating of tomato sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Lay the chicken over sauce. Cover the chicken with more sauce, sprinkle with cheese and bake until cheese is bubbly and golden brown, about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Pour remaining sauce over pasta. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve immediately.
- Combine olive oil and garlic in a large saute pan and turn heat to medium. Cook until garlic is fragrant but not brown. Stir in tomatoes and salt and pepper to taste. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer until sauce has thickened slightly, stirring occasionally, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. Add basil and simmer for 1 minute more.
PASTA WITH 15-MINUTE MEAT SAUCE
This rich 15-minute ragù turns pasta or polenta into a quick hearty dinner any night of the week.
Provided by Anna Stockwell
Categories Pasta Pork Tomato Kid-Friendly Quick & Easy Ground Beef Small Plates
Yield Serves 4-6
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente; drain and transfer to a large bowl.
- Meanwhile, process onion, celery, carrot, and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over high. Add chopped vegetables, beef, and pork and cook, breaking up with a spatula, until meat is beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, oregano, 3/4 tsp. salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 1 minute. Add wine and cook, stirring constantly, until reduced by half, about 1 minute more. Stir in tomato sauce, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until sauce is slightly thickened, about 4 minutes.
- Remove from heat, then stir in butter. Toss meat sauce with pasta, top with Parmesan, and season with pepper.
- Do Ahead
- Let sauce cool, then chill in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
RITA'S PASTA AND MEAT SAUCE
This dish is great for kids and adults. There's a sweetness to the meat sauce that kids love and then they don't seem to mind that there are veggies in the sauce...
Provided by Rita
Categories Pasta Main Dishes
Time 50m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- In a large skillet over medium heat, combine ground beef, onion and garlic. Cook until meat is evenly brown. Drain excess fat. Stir in carrots, bell pepper, diced tomatoes and stewed tomatoes with juice. Season with onion powder, parsley, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Cover, and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce and sugar. Simmer 15 minutes more.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain. Toss pasta with meat sauce until evenly coated, and serve with crumbled Gorgonzola.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 790.9 calories, Carbohydrate 84.8 g, Cholesterol 107.7 mg, Fat 35.6 g, Fiber 7 g, Protein 35.4 g, SaturatedFat 14.6 g, Sodium 1255.3 mg, Sugar 17.9 g
RITA'S PASTA SAUCE
I came up with this recipe one day, when I wanted something spicy and easy to make. I let everyone add their own Cajun seasoning as my daughter does not like spice. Serve with a salad and garlic bread and supper is ready in a half hour.
Provided by melsmom
Categories Sauces
Time 30m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Chop chicken in 1-inch cubes.
- Fry in olive oil in a large skillet until cooked.
- Add onion, peppers, garlic and celery seed.
- Fry for a couple of minutes.
- Add tomatoes, soup and Cajun seasoning.
- Simmer for 20 minutes.
- Serve over hot cooked pasta.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 290.7, Fat 15.1, SaturatedFat 2.3, Cholesterol 34.2, Sodium 880.9, Carbohydrate 24.8, Fiber 4.1, Sugar 14.4, Protein 16.7
PASTA AND EASY ITALIAN MEAT SAUCE
Here is an easy dinner recipe. This Pasta and Italian Meat Sauce doesn't need to cook for a long time to be delicious. The spaghetti sauce is based on the famed Ragu alla Bolognese (sauce in the style of Bologna). The addition of milk might seem unusual, but it's traditional in northern Italy-where butter and cream, as well as milk, are essential to the cuisine.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Beef Recipes Ground Beef Recipes
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat butter and oil in a large saucepan over medium. Stir in carrot, onion, and garlic. Add ground beef, and cook until it turns from pink to brown, about 5 minutes.
- Add tomatoes and their liquid, crushing them with the back of a large spoon. Stir in milk, bay leaf, thyme, nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Simmer 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook fettuccine until al dente according to package instructions, about 12 minutes. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the cooking water; drain fettuccine, and return to the warm pot. Add meat sauce, and toss. Add pasta water as needed if the sauce seems dry. To serve, sprinkle with Parmesan.
Tips:
- Choose the right pasta: Short, sturdy pasta like penne or rigatoni are ideal for holding the chunky meat sauce. Avoid thin, delicate pasta like angel hair or spaghetti, as they will become overwhelmed by the sauce.
- Brown the meat thoroughly: This step is essential for developing flavor and preventing the meat from becoming dry and tough. Cook the meat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it is browned on all sides.
- Use a variety of vegetables: Bell peppers, onions, and carrots are classic additions to meat sauce, but you can also add other vegetables like mushrooms, zucchini, or spinach. This will add flavor, texture, and nutrients to the sauce.
- Simmer the sauce for at least 30 minutes: This will allow the flavors to meld and develop. The longer you simmer the sauce, the better it will taste.
- Season the sauce to taste: Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste. You may also want to add a touch of sweetness with sugar or honey.
- Serve the sauce over pasta with grated Parmesan cheese: This is the classic way to serve pasta with meat sauce, but you can also get creative and serve it over polenta, mashed potatoes, or even roasted vegetables.
Conclusion:
Rita's pasta and meat sauce is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With its simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, this recipe is a great choice for busy weeknight meals or special occasions. So next time you're looking for a comforting and satisfying meal, give Rita's pasta and meat sauce a try. You won't be disappointed!
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