Spaghetti ~ All in One Pot!

Not long ago, I ran across the idea of cooking spaghetti and sauce, all in one pot.  This method eliminates the need to cook the pasta separately, and even better, I don't have to add tomato paste to make the sauce nice and thick.  You could easily adapt this recipe to what you have on hand, whether you use home canned tomato products or fresh ingredients or canned tomato products from the grocery store.  Here is my latest version.  It really is delicious and used some wonderful fresh things from our early summer garden.

All in One Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 Tablespoon coconut oil

1 medium onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 Jalapeño peppers, stem, veins and seeds removed, then diced

1 green pepper, stem, veins and seeds removed, then diced

1 small zucchini squash, diced

2 Tablespoons fresh, finely chopped sweet basil leaves

2 Tablespoons fresh, finely chopped parsley

1 Tablespoon fresh, finely chopped oregano

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped

1 pound ground beef (grass-fed is best)

1 quart home-canned whole tomatoes, drained in a colander

1 quart home-canned tomato juice

½ teaponn sea salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Parmesan cheese

12 ounces spaghetti noodles, broken in thirds.

In a large pot that has a heavy bottom, or a cast iron Dutch oven, melt the olive and coconut oils together on medium-low heat.

Add the onion, garlic, Jalapeño, green pepper, and zucchini.  Stirring often, saute until the onions are getting soft.

Add the basil, parsley, oregano, and thyme and cook for about 30 seconds more.  Add the ground beef. Turn the heat up a little.

Continue to cook, chopping up the meat and stirring until the meat is all browned.

Add the drained whole tomatoes and chop them up.  Add the tomato juice, sea salt, and pepper.  

Bring it all to a boil, stirring often, and then add the spaghetti noodles, stir well, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer, stirring often for about 15 to 17 minutes.  Once in a while, test a piece of the pasta to see if it is as done as you like.

Then, it's finished, thick and lovely!  Serve warm with grated Parmesan cheese. 

This reheats well.  Serve with a fresh crisp salad for a complete meal.  :)

This recipe is linked up with Fantabulous Friday #18 !