A hearty serving of spaghetti topped with a rich and meaty Bolognese makes for a satisfying and comforting meal. Spaghetti Bolognese is a classic Italian dish that is a favorite for many people. It’s a one-pot meal that’s easy to make, it’s inexpensive, and it’s packed with flavor.
Spaghetti Bolognese
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 finely chopped carrot
- 1 stalk finely chopped celery
- 1/2 red capsicum chopped finely
- 500 g beef mince
- 1/2 cup dry red wine (substitute with water or beef broth/stock)
- 2 beef bouillon cubes
- 2 tsp beef stock powder), crumbled or granulated
- 800 g can crushed tomato (or tomato passata)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tsp white sugar (if needed)
- 2 tsp worcestershire sauce
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme (1 tsp dried thyme or oregano)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 400 g fresh spaghetti noodles
- parmesan cheese to garnish
Instructions
Preparation
- Make your spaghetti noodles as per pasta-making instructions, dust with flour, and set aside.
- Heat oil in a large pot or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and cook for 3 minutes, add finely chopped carrot, celery and capsicum and saute on low heat for 10 minutes.
- Turn the heat up to add the beef, breaking it up as you go until browned.
- Add red wine if using or substitutes. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1 minute, scraping the bottom of the pot, until the alcohol smell is gone.
- Add remaining ingredients except for salt and pepper. Stir, bringing to a simmer then turn down to medium-low so bubbles gently. Cook for 20-30 minutes with no lid, adding water if the sauce gets too thick for your taste. Stir occasionally.
- When the sauce is almost ready, bring to the boil a large pot of water with a little oil and salt and cook your fresh pasta for 3-6 minutes until cooked.
- Season your pasta sauce as required with salt and pepper, add your spaghetti, tossing to combine. Top with parmesan cheese and serve.
- Slow cook option: Take your pasta sauce to the next level. From step 5, add 3/4 cup of water and cover with a lid and simmer on very low for 2-2.5 hours, stirring every 30 minutes or so. Uncover, and simmer for 20 minutes to thicken the sauce.
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