Greek Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

February 7, 2017Ashley Korizis

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour

Serves: 4 people

When first tasting this Greek spaghetti with meat sauce, I was reminded of my childhood favorite – spaghetti bolognese. Although there are similarities between the two, a closer look reveals some key differences. In this recipe, the rich and savory flavors of the ground beef are enhanced by a dash of cinnamon. Yes, cinnamon! The thought of using a spice associated with sweet foods may seem odd, but it truly complements the sauce. The key is to add the cinnamon sparingly. Start with a pinch. You know you have the right amount when you can detect the aroma of the spice but can’t clearly make out what it is. Another particularity of Greek-style pasta is that it is served well done as opposed to al-dente. Just like the bolognese of my childhood, this Greek spaghetti with meat sauce has become a staple and favorite in our home.

Ingredients

  • Medium red onion
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (divided)
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 6 cups water (for the sauce)
  • 4 tablespoons tomato paste
  • A dash of cinnamon
  • 4 teaspoons salt (divided)
  • 1 gallon water (for the pasta)
  • 1 pound spaghetti

Preparation

  • Roughly chop the onion
  • In a large sauté pan, combine 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and the onion
  • Cook the onion over medium heat until soft (approximately 5 minutes​)
  • Add the ground beef to the onions and brown
  • Once the ground beef has browned add 6 cups of water​
  • Cover and simmer for 45 minutes
  • Once the ground beef is done simmering, add the tomato paste, cinnamon, 2 teaspoons of salt and simmer for another 15 minutes
  • While the beef is simmering, in a separate large pot, bring 1 gallon of water with 2 teaspoons of salt to a boil and boil the spaghetti for 15 minutes. Unlike Italian cuisine that sometimes calls for pasta to be cooked “al dente”, Greek spaghetti is always cooked until well done
  • Once the spaghetti is cooked, drain in a strainer, place back in the pot, drizzle with 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil to prevent the pasta from sticking
  • When serving, you can either mix the pasta and sauce together in the pan beforehand or place the pasta on the dish with some sauce on top. Add a little grated cheese and dig in!
Print Recipe
  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 1 hour
  • Total time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Serves: 4 people

Ingredients

For the Sauce

  • 1 medium red onion
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 6 cups water
  • 4 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 dash cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons salt

For the pasta

  • 1 gallon water
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 pound pasta
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Method

  • Roughly chop the onion
    In a large sauté pan, combine 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and the onion
    Cook the onion over medium heat until soft (approximately 5 minutes​)
    Add the ground beef to the onions and brown
    Once the ground beef has browned add 6 cups of water​
    Cover and simmer for 45 minutes
    Once the ground beef is done simmering, add the tomato paste, cinnamon, 2 teaspoons of salt and simmer for another 15 minutes
    While the beef is simmering, in a separate large pot, bring 1 gallon of water with 2 teaspoons of salt to a boil and boil the spaghetti for 15 minutes. Unlike Italian cuisine that sometimes calls for pasta to be cooked “al dente”, Greek spaghetti is always cooked until well done
    Once the spaghetti is cooked, drain in a strainer, place back in the pot, drizzle with 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil to prevent the pasta from sticking
    When serving, you can either mix the pasta and sauce together in the pan beforehand or place the pasta on the dish with some sauce on top. Add a little grated cheese and dig in!

1 Comments

  • Mina Xydias

    January 2, 2022 at 11:14 am

    My yiayia’s recipe calls for 1/2 to 1 stick of butter browned in a small skillet. Drizzle evenly over spaghetti that has been topped with meat sauce.

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