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Linguine with Spiced Beef and Onion Sauce and Feta

Linguine with Spiced Beef and Onion Sauce and Feta

By Diane UngerOctober 12, 2020

  • Makes
    4 servings
  • Cook Time
    45 minutes
  • Rating

A ground-beef sauce seasoned with fragrant spices and generous amounts of onion and garlic is lightened with a good dose of mint at the end. Rather than sprinkle the feta as a garnish, we toss the just-cooked noodles with most of the cheese so that it melts and coats the strands. If you like, you could serve the sauce with warmed flatbread instead of on noodles.

Tip

Don't use ground beef fattier than 90 percent lean or the sauce will be greasy.

Ingredients
  • 1½

    pounds 90 percent lean ground beef

  • 2

    tablespoons ground cumin

  • 2

    teaspoons sweet paprika

  • 2

    teaspoons cinnamon

  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper

  • 2

    large yellow onions, finely chopped

  • 8

    medium garlic cloves, minced

  • 28

    ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand

  • 12

    ounces linguini

  • 8

    ounces feta cheese, shredded on the large holes of a box grater

  • 1

    cup chopped fresh mint

Step 1

In a medium bowl, combine the beef, cumin, paprika, cinnamon, 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper and ¼ cup water. Mix with your hands until homogenous.

Step 2

Add the beef mixture, onion and garlic to a 12-inch skillet. Set the pan over medium-high and cook, stirring and breaking up the meat with a spatula, until the onion has softened and the beef is no longer pink, 8 to 10 minutes.

Stir in the tomatoes with juices and bring to a simmer, then reduce to medium and cook uncovered, stirring, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the sauce has thickened, 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 3

Meanwhile, in a large pot, bring 4 quarts water to a boil. Stir in the pasta and 2 tablespoons salt; cook until the pasta is al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta.

Return the pasta to the pot. Add about ¾ of the feta and toss. Taste and season with salt and pepper, then transfer to a platter.

Step 4

Stir the mint into the sauce, then taste and season with salt and pepper. Pour the sauce over the pasta and sprinkle with the remaining feta.