Description
Indulge in the rich, comforting flavors of Italian Sunday Gravy, also known as Sunday Sauce. This hearty, slow-simmered tomato sauce is filled with a variety of meats and aromatic seasonings, perfect for ladling over pasta and enjoying with loved ones on a leisurely weekend.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage (sweet or hot)
- 1 pound bone-in pork ribs or pork neck bones
- 1 pound beef chuck or meatballs (optional)
Sauce:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 (28 oz) cans crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- ½ cup red wine (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- fresh basil for garnish
- grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Brown the Meat: Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot. Brown the sausage, pork ribs, and beef in batches. Set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same pot, sauté onion until soft. Add garlic and cook briefly. Stir in tomato paste.
- Add Tomatoes and Seasonings: Pour in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and red wine. Add salt, pepper, sugar, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes.
- Simmer: Return meats to the pot. Simmer covered for 2½ to 3 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Serve: Ladle sauce over pasta with Parmesan and basil. Serve meat on the side or mix into pasta.
Notes
- Sunday Gravy deepens in flavor with longer simmering.
- Leftovers freeze well and taste even better the next day.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop, Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup sauce with meat
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
