Spaghetti Bolognese

Beef, Pasta and Rice

Serves 4-6 people.
Chef’s tip: Make this at least 3 hours before you plan on eating it. The flavours will develop the longer you leave it.

Ingredients

  • 500g beef mince (a bit less/more works just fine if you can’t get the exact weight)
  • 150ml red wine
  • 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced or finely chopped
  • 1/2 a celery stick, diced super small
  • 2 tins of plum tomatoes (chopped tomatoes are also fine)
  • 2 tbsp tomato puree
  • 1/2 beef stock cube (optional but delicious)
  • Dash of Worcestershire sauce
  • Dry basil
  • Dry oregano
  • Salt andĀ pepper
  • Olive oil

Method

  • Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large frying pan on a medium-high heat.
  • Add the mince and use a whisk to break it up and remove any chunks. Season the mince with salt and pepper.
  • Cook the mince until all of the liquid has evaporated and the meat is starting to brown/stick to the pan (don’t worry, it will come off). This will take your bolognese to another level of flavour.
  • Add the red wine and cook for about a minute to release the alcohol, then add the onion, garlic, celery and rosemary.
  • Cook for another 5-10mins or so to soften the onions
  • Add the puree and stir until it’s incorporated
  • Add the tomatoes. Break them up with a spoon/masher/knife if you want smaller chunks.
  • Take one of the tins and fill it 2/3 with water, and add that to your sauce.
  • Add the half stock cube, a dash of Worcestershire sauce, and a good sprinkle of basil and oregano – I’d say around a tablespoon of each.
  • Re-season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Turn down to simmer with a lid on for at least an hour, longer if possible and occasionally stirring it. Ideally you want time to be able to turn it off, let it cool and start it up again when you make your pasta.
  • Taste it every time you stir and see if you need to add any more seasoning.
  • When you put your water on to boil for the pasta (in salted water), add a pinch of sugar to the bolognese sauce to really bring it all together.
  • Serve with your choice of pasta and maybe some garlic bread šŸ˜‰