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Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

When you want to serve a crowd but don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen, this great recipe is the answer.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 12; 1 cup spaghetti and 2/3 cup sauce per serving

Ingredients

1 pound extra-lean ground beef
1 28-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
2 small zucchini, diced
1 6-ounce can no-salt-added tomato paste
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup dry red wine (regular or nonalcoholic)
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano or 1/2 teaspoon dried, crumbled
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh basil or 1/2 teaspoon dried, crumbled
1 medium garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/8 teaspoon pepper
24 ounces dried whole-grain spaghetti

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a large saucepan, cook the beef over medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes, or until browned on the outside and no longer pink in the center, stirring frequently to turn and break up the beef. Drain if necessary. Wipe the pan with paper towels. Return the beef to the pan.

    Step 2

    Stir in the remaining ingredients except the pasta. Simmer, covered, for 1 hour 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the sauce seems too thick, gradually add water until the desired consistency.

    Step 3

    Meanwhile, prepare the pasta using the package directions, omitting the salt. Drain well in a colander. Serve topped with the sauce.

  2. Nutrition information

    Step 4

    (Per serving)

    Step 5

    Calories: 287

    Step 6

    Total fat: 3.0g

    Step 7

    Saturated: 1.0g

    Step 8

    Trans: 0.0g

    Step 9

    Polyunsaturated: 0.5g

    Step 10

    Monounsaturated: 1.0g

    Step 11

    Cholesterol: 21mg

    Step 12

    Sodium: 57mg

    Step 13

    Carbohydrates: 50g

    Step 14

    Fiber: 9g

    Step 15

    Sugars: 7g

    Step 16

    Protein: 18g

    Step 17

    Calcium: 58mg

    Step 18

    Potassium: 575mg

  3. Dietary Exchanges

    Step 19

    3 starch

    Step 20

    1 vegetable

    Step 21

    1 very lean meat

American Heart Association Low-Salt Cookbook, 4th Edition
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