Tomato Sauce with Meat / Sos de rosii cu carne

Directions

1. Wash and chop onions, garlic, peppers and tomatoes to desired size and set aside.

2. Prepare meat (trim or chop as needed). Set aside.

3. In large saucepan, heat olive oil over a medium-low flame.  Add onion and cook until transparent. Add garlic and peppers.  Sauté 2 to 3 minutes.

4. Add meat to onions, garlic, and peppers cook until well done. If there is excessive fat released from the meat – pour some off.

5. Add the tomatoes, water and tomato paste. Stir until well mixed.

6. Add basil, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves and salt and pepper to taste.

7. Bring sauce to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes or more.  Cook sauce to desired thickness covered or uncovered.

 

Notes:  If using fresh tomatoes and you want to remove the skin simply blanch, then peel them. If the sauce is bitter, add a little sugar and or honey to taste.  Any type of lean meat will work turkey, rabbit etc.  However, pork is not recommended.

 

Variations: This Sauce can easily be made vegetarian by omitting the meat. Or, if you want to make this dish Romanian style, substitute the olive oil with smoked or un-smoked pig fat (slănină/szalanna).  It will give it that pork fat taste that is so popular here. A wonderful addition is a splash or two or red wine - generally the sweeter the better.

 

Substitutions: Tomatoes/Canned tomatoes. Water/Stock.