Recipe: Deke's Marinara with Beef Tips and Gemelli Pasta

DEKE'S MARINARA WITH BEEF TIPS AND GEMELLI PASTA

You may substitute 2 teaspoons of dried herbs for 2 tablespoons fresh in this recipe.

FOR THE MARINARA SAUCE:
6 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, peeled and minced
2 carrots, peeled and minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
Bay leaf
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup white wine
2 cans (14 to 15 ounces each) diced tomatoes
2 tablespoons fresh basil
2 tablespoons fresh thyme
2 tablespoons fresh oregano
FOR THE MEAT AND PASTA:
24 ounces gemelli pasta, uncooked
2 tablespoons olive oil
24 ounces beef tenderloin tips cut into 1-inch cubes.
1 cup chopped shallots
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups sliced mushrooms
4 cups (about 1/4 pound) fresh baby spinach
1/4 cup red wine
Freshly grated Parmesan and chopped parsley for garnish

TO MAKE THE SAUCE:
In a saucepan, heat 4 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmery. Add onions, carrots, garlic, bay leaf, salt and pepper to taste, and saute over medium-high heat until vegetables soften, 5 to 8 minutes.

Add white wine, and cook, stirring, for approximately 5 more minutes, until almost all the wine evaporates.

Add diced tomatoes, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Add fresh herbs, and puree with immersion blender, or transfer to countertop blender and puree, in batches if necessary.

Return to saucepan, taste, and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper. Add last 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Set aside.

TO PREPARE THE PASTA AND BEEF TIPS:
Cook pasta according to package directions, and drain.

In large saute pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat, and cook beef tips until desired doneness (5 minutes or so, stirring, for rare). Remove beef, and reserve.

Add shallots, garlic and mushrooms to the saute pan. Cook until mushrooms begin to brown, about 5 to 8 minutes.

Add spinach and red wine, stirring to cook spinach and work up any browned bits on bottom of pan into the sauce.

When spinach is wilted and red wine almost evaporated, add reserved beef and marinara.

TO SERVE:
Place pasta in large serving bowl, and spoon sauce over. Garnish with fresh Parmesan and parsley.

Servings: 6
From: Deke's Marketplace Grill, 301 E. Market St., Louisville
Adapted from source: The Louisville Courier-Journal; April 12, 2006