Spaghetti with a twist

The most famous and can also be considered a typical feature of Italian culinary culture is Spaghetti.

Spaghetti is a typical Italian dish, but its origins are still controversial. In the 13th century, an Italian adventurer, Marco Polo, brought noodles from China after his travels. It is considered the origin of spaghetti based on the latter's noodle-like appearance. However, this argument was immediately refuted when reports by the Muslim geographer Abdullah Mohammed al Edrisi said that this dish was produced in Sicily in 1154.

But whatever it comes from, Spaghetti conquers diners with its eye-catching, curled golden noodles soaked in ground beef sauce and rich red tomatoes. The golden, chewy pasta mixed with tomato sauce and minced beef will bring a rich flavor that conquers the audience’s taste buds.

This dish is easy to make and suitable for a date night. You don’t need to go to faraway Italy or luxury restaurants to have Spaghetti. With the simple implementation below and a little twist, you can still enjoy this dish with the right taste. It will only take you one hour to make this dish, and it fits in your pocket.

Ingredients:

- 1 pack of Barilla Spaghetti Pasta

- 1 pound of ground beef (lean preferred)

- 1 bottle of Prego Flavored with Meat Pasta Sauce

- 1 can of Hunt tomatoes dice (28 oz)

- 1 can of Hunt tomato paste (6 oz)

- 1 pack of Lawry's Original Style Spaghetti Sauce Seasoning Mix

- 1 clove of shallot

- Twist part: 6 oz of Cabernet Sauvignon wine (I prefer the Josh Cellars brand because the taste of this wine is balanced with the sauce, which enriches the flavor)

- 3 tablespoons of olive oil

- 1 pack of grate Parmesan cheese for decoration

Instructions:

1. Shallots are peeled, washed, drained, smashed, minced, and kept separately.

2. Turn on the stove to medium heat, put the non-stick pot on the stove, wait until the pan is hot, add 3 tablespoons of cooking oil, and coat the pan evenly. Add minced garlic shallot when the oil is hot and saute until fragrant.

3. When the shallot is fragrant, add the ground beef and stir-fry—stirring well to separate the ground beef and not stick to each other. (Tip: When the beef is ready, and you will see there is water underneath, lower the heat to medium and continue stirring until it is scorched. By doing that, when you pour in the sauce, it won’t be greasy)

4. Open one can of Hunt tomato dice, one can of Hunt tomato paste, and one bottle of Prego and pour them into the pot. Turn on the high heat again. And begin to stir until tomatoes and beef are mixed together.

5. Add one pack of Lawry's Original Style Spaghetti Sauce Seasoning Mix into the meat sauce and continue stirring until it dissolves.

6. Here is the twisting part. Pour in 6 oz of Cabernet Sauvignon wine and stir well. Then, you dim the heat. You will immediately smell the sense of wine and sauce blending together, bringing out the sauce's richness and savory taste. Remember to swirl the wine before adding it to the sauce because it will help the wine get in contact with the air more, so it quickly wakes up with aromas.

7. Next, bring the pot with 1 liter of water to boil. Add one teaspoon of salt and one teaspoon of oil. When the water is boiling, add one pack of Barilla Spaghetti Pasta, and boil the pasta for about 8-10 minutes until soft. You use your hand to press on a string of pasta, if it is still a bit hard, continue to boil, and if the noodles are soft, take them out and put them in a bowl of boiled water to cool. This way, the pasta is tough and crispy without sticking together. Then, take out, and drain.

8. You put the pasta into a plate and pour the sauce above it. Finally, sprinkle the grate Parmesan cheese on top. And enjoy the dish.

Spaghetti is an essential dish to bring a couple close together. When you enjoy spaghetti, you can pair it with Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon to make the meal more delicious and spice up the romance in a room filled with jazz.