Meat(less) Tomato Sauce - Sicilian Style

Total Time: 1 hr 50 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• 3 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
• 1 1/4 lbs ground beef
• 2 onions, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar or 1 (1 g) packet sweet 'n low or 1 (1 g) packet splenda sugar substitute
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil or 4 -5 fresh basil leaves

Recipe

• 1 empty the tomatoes into a large saucepan and turn the heat to medium.
• 2 in the meantime, heat a heavy skillet over medium heat.
• 3 when hot, add the ground beef and stir it around until brown.
• 4 you do not need to add oil as the fat from the beef will suffice.
• 5 when the meat is cooked, remove with a slotted spoon, allowing excess oil to drip back into the skillet, and transfer the meat to the saucepan of tomatoes and stir.
• 6 add the onions and garlic to the fat in the skillet and cook until the onion is tender.
• 7 remove with a slotted spoon, again, allowing the excess oil to drip back into the skillet and stir into the tomatoes.
• 8 stir in the salt, sugar and basil.
• 9 bring sauce to a boil, cover, then turn down the heat to simmer for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
• 10 turn off the heat and let the pot sit on the stove until you are ready to use it.
• 11 if you are planning to use it the next day, refrigerate when cooled.
• 12 reheat as necessary or freeze for future use.