Homemade Pasta Sauce 🍝

Ingredients: 

• 2 tbsps olive oil
• 300g minced pork 
• 1 medium-size diced yellow onion
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 can tomato paste
• 2 fresh medium-size tomatoes , diced 
• 2 tsp dried basil
• 2 tsp dried parsley 
• 1 tsp oregano
• 5 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 2 cups of chicken broth (either homemade or store-bought) 
• 1-2 tbsp of butter (optional) 
• Pasta of your choice cooked according to package directions
• Parmesan cheese for topping

Method: 

1. Heat pot at medium heat. Add olive oil. Once oil is hot, Add minced pork, diced onion and minced garlic and cook. Stir and break up minced pork until crumbly and browned. Drain off excess oil , if necessary. 
2. Stir in tomato paste into the mixture and cook for a minute or two. Then add basil, oregano, thyme, salt and pepper. Cook until well combined. Add diced tomatoes and stir well. Add chicken broth and sugar and stir to combine. Increase heat to medium-high and bring mixture to a boil. Then reduce heat to a simmer, uncovered, for at least 30 minutes while you cook your pasta or for up an hour to deepen the flavors.
3. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, only if needed. If the sauce is too acidic for your taste, add optional butter and allow to melt into the sauce. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving for sauce to mellow. If you've used San Marzano tomatoes, it is unlikely you'll feel the need to add the butter but it is an excellent way to balance the flavors even further if you'd like.
4. Serve over cooked pasta or your choice and top with Parmesan cheese. Add Tabasco sauce for an extra kick.