Weirdly Wonderful Spaghetti Sauce
Prepare to tantalize your taste buds with 'Weirdly Wonderful Spaghetti Sauce'—a bold and unique twist on traditional pasta night! This extraordinary recipe combines classic Italian flavors with unexpected ingredients like chunky peanut butter, a whisper of cinnamon, and a touch of dark chocolate for a depth of flavor that's rich, savory, and slightly sweet. Fresh vegetables, ground beef, and fragrant basil come together in a velvety sauce simmered to perfection with balsamic vinegar and vegetable broth. The surprise addition of peanut butter adds creaminess, while the dark chocolate lends a luxurious finish that will wow your dinner guests. Perfectly paired with spaghetti or any pasta of your choice, this easy-to-follow recipe is ready in just over an hour and serves four hungry souls. Indulge in this one-of-a-kind spaghetti sauce recipe for a pasta dish that's quirky, comforting, and utterly delicious!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 1 medium carrot, grated
- 1 stalk celery stalk, finely chopped
- 0.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 pound ground beef
- 0.25 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons chunky peanut butter
- 28 ounces canned diced tomatoes
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, finely chopped
- 1 ounce dark chocolate (70% cocoa or higher), finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoons black pepper
- 16 ounces spaghetti or pasta of your choice
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
Add the diced onion, minced garlic, grated carrot, and chopped celery. Sauté for 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened.
Sprinkle the ground cinnamon over the vegetables and stir well to release the fragrance, about 1 minute.
Add the ground beef to the pan. Cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon, about 6-8 minutes.
Stir in the crushed red pepper flakes and chunky peanut butter until evenly combined.
Pour in the canned diced tomatoes and vegetable broth. Stir well and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
Add the balsamic vinegar, fresh basil, salt, and black pepper. Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
While the sauce simmers, cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
In the final 5 minutes of simmering, stir the chopped dark chocolate into the sauce until completely melted and incorporated. This will add depth and a hint of sweetness.
Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with additional salt or pepper, if needed.
Serve the sauce generously over the cooked spaghetti or pasta of your choice. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
757 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 44.5 g | 57% | |
| Saturated Fat | 14.4 g | 72% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.7 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 80 mg | 27% | |
| Sodium | 1018 mg | 44% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 57.8 g | 21% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 9.2 g | 33% | |
| Total Sugars | 12.7 g | ||
| Protein | 31.8 g | 64% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 130 mg | 10% | |
| Iron | 6.4 mg | 35% | |
| Potassium | 1025 mg | 22% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
