(I do actually make my own pseudo-Italian pasta dishes, usually with very good results, but because I work on a 'throw it all in and see how it comes out' system, I can't provide you with a recipe!)
I use minced beef, an onion, a tomato pasta sauce from a supermarket. I add Marmite, Worcestershire sauce, poss a glass of red wine if there's a drop to spare.
Jo:
I must be unusual then (nothing new there!) in that I like genuine Parmesan but I also like 'fake Parmesan' (labelled 'grated Italian hard cheese', or similar) in those little tubs.
Buenchico, you can't be that unusual with your liking for the little tubs, as the supermarkets still stock them.
To me, it's something you buy to go with the first spaghetti Bol you make as an adult.
Irrespective of whether it's 'real' or 'fake' Parmesan, I'm not satisfied with just a sprinkling of it. I need every part of my spag-bol (or almost any other Italian dish) smothered in it to a depth of around a centimetre. That can get expensive with the real stuff!
Buenchico's reference to cheese mills compounds my feelings of inadequacy exacerbated (unintentionally, I'm sure) by CloverJo's advice on hard cheese.
All those "Pepper, signora?" moments in Italian restaurants with the giant pepper mills they use. They (waiters and mills) work perfectly. Have I ever managed to find a pepper mill which does the job properly at home?
Those little tubs of so-called Parmesan cheese are an abomination ! Most of them contain not one once of real Parmesan, but something called "full fat hard cheese"
A piece of real Parmesan will keep for months in an air-tight container and is much, much better than those dreadful cardboard tubs.
My own recipe would be very similar to Antonio's Ragu. The sofrito of onion, carrot and celery is essential to any Ragu, and the combination of beef and pork likewise.
Proportions dependant on how many you are feeding but
1bl Mince
1 large onion, chopped
As many mushrooms as you want, chopped
Mixed herbs
Tsp Turmeric
Tsp paprika
Minced garlic
Tin chopped tomatoes
Fresh basil to garnish
Brown the mince
Drain excess fat
Add herbs, garlic, turmeric and paprika
Add onion and mushrooms
Add tomatoes and stir.
I use a mix of beef and pork mince, a blend of cinnamon, paprika, nutmeg, oregano, thyme, majoram, a square of dark chocolate, a good dash of red wine, a beef stock pot, 3 fresh bay leaves from the garden and a couple of generous spoons of my own homemade pesto.
Minced beef, onion, chopped mushrooms, some chopped peppers for a bit of colour, cook in Olive oil. Seeds of Change sauce. A drop or two of olive oil in the water for the spaghetti, to stop it sticking, I use a lump of parmisan and grate it meself too. Much nicer.
Minced beef ..passata..onion..mushrooms...basil..oregano ..garlic...tbsp sugar...Brown meat ..add all the other ingredients except mushrooms ...bring to bubble turn down heat put lid on and leave to cook on for ten mins....then stir in mushrooms leave to simmer on whilst pasta is cooking....loads of parmesan ....garlic bread