Sensational Spaghetti

We’re unmasking our secret ingredient up front: it’s the coffee!

We’re unmasking our secret ingredient up front: it’s the coffee! The rich coffee taste makes the sauce smooth and hearty, yet doesn’t overwhelm the purely Italian tomato taste. This is a spaghetti sauce for adults, yet kids will love it too (most of the caffeine will cook off, by the way.) Everyone will be asking for more!

This recipe makes 6 servings.

Ingredients: 
1 pound ground chuck or ground beef at least 15% fat 
2 medium yellow onions, finely chopped 
3 cloves garlic, finely minced 
3 medium red tomatoes, chopped roughly 
2 tablespoon good-quality tomato paste 
3/4 cup coffee, freshly brewed (make extra to drink while dicing and chopping, you’re the cook, you deserve it!) 
1/2 pound button mushrooms, cleaned, and sliced thickly 
2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 
Pinch of sugar (to counteract the acid in the tomatoes) 
1 teaspoon Italian or Mexican oregano 
Salt and pepper to taste, as necessary 
1/2 pound regular spaghetti (8 ounces) 
Fresh Parmesan cheese, roughly grated (splurge, it’s worth it!)

Directions: 
Brew the coffee and set aside. 
Grate the cheese and set aside. 
Heat a large pot of water for the spaghetti. 
In an iron or nonstick frying pan, heat the olive oil, then add the onions and garlic and cook until translucent. 
Add the ground beef and cook until it is brown. 
At this point, you can drain off the fat if you feel there is too much. 
Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, mushrooms, and coffee to the meat sauce and simmer, uncovered, for about 30 minutes, adding water if the sauce becomes too condense. 
While the sauce is cooking, keep an eye on the water and cook the spaghetti according to the directions on the package. 
When the pasta is cooked, drain it and put into a large bowl you have preheated by pouring hot water into it, then throwing the water out. 
Finish the sauce by adding the oregano then stir it in thoroughly. Taste. 
Add salt and pepper to your taste. 
Pour over the pasta. Sprinkle on the cheese and serve immediately.

Nutritional Information by www.MenuCalc.com 
Calculated for a serving size of 1 
Calories 390 
Calories from Fat 150 
Total Fat 17 g 26% Daily Value
Saturated Fat 5 g 25% Daily Value
Trans Fat 0.5 g 
Cholesterol 50 mg 17% Daily Value
Sodium 65 mg 3% Daily Value
Total Carbohydrates 37 g 12% Daily Value
Dietary Fiber 3 g 12% Daily Value
Sugars 6 g 
Protein 21 g 
Vitamin A 10% Daily Value
Vitamin C 20% Daily Value
Calcium 4% Daily Value
Iron 20% Daily Value