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Spaghetti with Classic Greek Meat Sauce (Makaronia me Kima)

Three simple words that evoke the comforts of childhood for many Greeks are makaronia me kima — spaghetti with meat sauce. This classic family dish is hearty enough for adults yet very kid-friendly, and it’s a staple in Greek home cooking.

Ingredients for the greek recipe, makaronia me kima, greek spaghetti with meat sauce.

Ingredients

1 lb lean ground beef
1 lb onions, finely chopped (a few small or a couple large)
3–4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup red wine
2 lbs tomatoes, pureed or grated
6 whole peppercorns
1 stick cinnamon
1 tsp salt (or to taste)
3/8 tsp ground black pepper (or to taste)

Instructions

Place the ground beef in a large pot and add the chopped onions and garlic on top. Heat over medium-high until the meat begins to sizzle. As it heats, start breaking the meat apart with a spoon and stir in the onions and garlic.

Saute onions and beef for greek recipe makaronia me kima, greek spaghetti with meat sauce.

Continue stirring and breaking up the meat for approximately 10 minutes, until the beef is no longer pink and the onions are softened. Pour in one cup of red wine and keep cooking over medium-high heat, stirring frequently and breaking the meat into very small pieces.

Break up the meat finely for the greek recipe makaronia me kima, greek spaghetti with meat sauce.

Simmer until most of the wine has evaporated and the bottom of the pot is no longer wet. During this stage the mixture will reduce and the meat will brown more evenly.

Adding wine to the greek recipe makaronia me kima, greek spaghetti with meat sauce

Once the wine has mostly evaporated and the meat is well broken up, add the tomato puree, whole peppercorns, cinnamon stick, salt and pepper. Stir to combine, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, partially covered, for about 45 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and to let the flavors meld.

Simmering the beef in wine for greek recipe makaronia me kima, greek spaghetti with meat sauce.

Check the sauce occasionally; it should thicken and develop a rich, savory flavor as it cooks. If needed, remove the cinnamon stick and peppercorns before serving.

Wine has not yet evaporated from meat in the greek recipe makaronia me kima, greek spaghetti with meat sauce.

Cook spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and plate it, then spoon the meat sauce over the spaghetti. Finish with a generous sprinkling of grated myzithra or another hard cheese of your choice.

The wine has evaporated, ready for the next step in the greek recipe makaronai me kima, greek spaghetti with meat sauce.

Add tomato sauce and spices to greek recipe makaronia me kima, greek spaghetti with meat sauce.

A serving of makaronia me kima, the greek recipe for spaghetti with meat sauce.

This straightforward, comforting recipe is perfect for family dinners and can be adjusted to taste. For a deeper flavor, use a good-quality red wine and let the sauce simmer a bit longer; for a milder, kid-friendly version, reduce the cinnamon and pepper slightly.