Greek Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

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!