Serves 6-8
¼ cup/60ml extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1 celery stalk, minced
1 carrot, minced
1 pound ground meat, beef, turkey, or pork
1 28 ounce/794g can crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons/30ml tomato paste
1/2 cup/125ml white wine
¼ teaspoon/1ml cinnamon
½ teaspoon/2ml thyme
1 teaspoon/5ml oregano
small handful of flat leaf Italian parsley, chopped
8 fresh basil leaves, chiffonade
1 teaspoon/5ml salt
½ teaspoon/5ml black pepper
In a large sauce pan, add extra-virgin olive oil on medium heat. When hot, add the onion and garlic and sauté the onions become very soft, about 2-3 minutes. Add the celery, carrot, and spices sauté for 5 minutes. Add the ground meat. Sauté, stirring frequently and breaking up any large lumps and cook until meat is no longer pink, about 8 minutes. Pour in wine and reduce for 2-3 minutes. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, cinnamon, thyme, oregano, parsley, basil, salt and black pepper. Cook over medium low heat until the sauce thickens, 20-30 minutes.