Sauce à Spaghetti Québécoise - beautifully plated pasta dish

Sauce à Spaghetti Québécoise

The iconic Québécois meat sauce — ground beef and pork simmered for hours with tomatoes, celery, and a touch of clove. A Sunday tradition.

Prep Time

15 min

Cook Time

120 min

Servings

8

Calories

420

Ingredients

  • 400 g pasta (your choice of shape)
  • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (796ml) San Marzano crushed tomatoes
  • 0.25 cup fresh basil leaves
  • 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. 1

    Cook the Pasta

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.

  2. 2

    Prepare the Base

    While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

  3. 3

    Build the Sauce

    Add the main sauce ingredients to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until the flavours meld together, about 3-5 minutes.

  4. 4

    Combine

    Add the drained pasta to the sauce and toss vigorously, adding pasta water as needed to achieve a silky consistency that coats every strand.

  5. 5

    Serve

    Plate immediately and garnish with fresh herbs and freshly grated cheese. Serve hot with crusty bread on the side.

Chef's Notes

I add a pinch of sugar to tomato sauce only if the tomatoes taste acidic. Good San Marzanos shouldn't need it.

Chef Luca Bianchi

Nutrition Facts

420

cal

27g

Protein

15g

Fat

58g

Carbs

8g

Fiber

701mg

Sodium

Tips & Tricks

  • Always salt your pasta water generously — it should taste like the sea.
  • Reserve a cup of starchy pasta water before draining. It's liquid gold for emulsifying sauces.
  • Cook pasta 1 minute less than the package says if finishing it in the sauce.

Reviews (4)

David C.★★★★★

Restaurant quality at home. I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out amazing. The pasta water trick really makes the sauce come together.

Lisa P.★★★★★

Made this for a dinner party and everyone wanted the recipe. It's impressive enough for guests but easy enough for Tuesday night.

Robert B.★★★★★

Five stars! The flavour combination is spot on. I added a little extra garlic because that's how we like it, and it was incredible.

Jennifer K.★★★★★

This is now our go-to weeknight dinner. Ready in under 30 minutes and tastes like it took hours. My kids ask for seconds every time.