Main Meals Recipes

Easy Beef & Tomato Sauce

Kids back to school? Looking for an easy recipe? Here’s my easy Beef & Tomato Sauce which will make enough to feed a family of four twice over. Plus it’s super easy to adapt into a second meal, or alternatively freeze any leftover sauce for an night off cooking at a later date.

Perfect of young children too – for those aged under 7 months you may need to blend the sauce as the mince could be tough for those without teeth, and then serve it with large pasta as finger food.

If you don’t eat beef you can always substitute for turkey mince, or if you’re vegetarian use Quorn mince, or if you are vegan try using 125g red lentils and 125g green lentils with an addition 200-300ml water.

Serves 8 adults

Easy Beef & Tomato Pasta Sauce

Ingredients

  • 2 large onions 
  • 3 sticks of celery 
  • 4 cloves of garlic 
  • 1.5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 
  • 150g mushrooms 
  • 500g minced beef 
  • 2 tbsp tomato puree 
  • 800g tinned tomatoes – option to use peeled tomatoes or passata if serving to young babies 

Method 

  • Blend the onions, celery and garlic together in a food processor. 
  • Add the blended vegetables to a large saucepan and cook with the oil for 5 minutes. 
  • Chop or blend the mushrooms and add to the pan. Cook together till dry. 
  • Push the mixture to the edge of the pan and add the minced beef in the centre so it sears. Flip to sear the second side before mixing into the vegetables.
  • Add the tomato puree and tinned tomatoes. Mix well.
  • Simmer for 30 minutes till cooked through. 

Delicious served with cooked pasta and peas. Option to serve with cheese on the top. 

Leftovers? Why not try turning this sauce into one of the following for a bit of diversity:

  • Spaghetti Bolognese: add mixed herbs, a grated carrot and a grated courgette. Serve with spaghetti and parmesan over the top.
  • Chilli Con Carne: add smoked paprika, oregano, chilli, mixed peppers and a tin of kidney beans. Serve with a roasted sweet potato or steamed rice.
  • Cottage Pie: add carrots and peas. Top with mash in an oven proof dish and bake.

Per portion of sauce: 172kcal/ 7.0g fat/ 1.8g saturated fat/ 7.0g carbohydrates/ 2.3g fibre/ 18.8g protein

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