Spaghetti Bolognese

Name: Spaghetti Bolognese
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 1 h 50 min
Total time: 2 h 15 min
Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean, European
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 4 rashers smoked streaky bacon, finely chopped; 2 medium onions, finely chopped; 2 carrots, trimmed and finely chopped; 2 celery sticks, finely chopped; 2 garlic cloves finely chopped; 2-3 sprigs rosemary leaves picked and finely chopped; 500g beef mince; 2 x 400g tins plum tomatoes; small pack basil leaves picked, ¾ finely chopped and the rest left whole for garnish; 1 tsp dried oregano; 2 fresh bay leaves; 2 tbsp tomato purée; 1 beef stock cube; 1 red chilli deseeded and finely chopped (optional); 125ml red wine; 6 cherry tomatoes sliced in half; 75g parmesan grated, plus extra to serve; 400g whole wheat spaghetti; crusty bread to serve (optional)

9 steps

Prep:25minCook:1h 50min

Updated at: Thu, 17 Aug 2023 11:33:40 GMT

Ingredients

6 servings

1 Tbspolive oil

4 rasherssmoked streaky bacon

finely chopped

2onions

medium, finely chopped

2carrots

trimmed and finely chopped

2 sprigsrosemary leaves

picked, finely chopped

500gbeef mince

For the bolognese sauce

2 x 400gtins plum tomatoes

basil leaves

small, picked, 3/4 finely chopped and the rest left whole for garnish

1 tspdried oregano

2fresh bay leaves

2 Tbsptomato purée

1beef stock cube

1red chilli

deseeded and finely chopped, optional

125mlred wine

6cherry tomatoes

sliced in half

To season and serve

75gparmesan grated

plus extra to serve

400gwhole wheat spaghetti

crusty bread

to serve, optional

Instructions

Step 1

Put a large saucepan on a medium heat and add 1 tbsp olive oil.

Sauce Pan

olive oil1 Tbsp

Step 2

Add 4 finely chopped bacon rashers and fry for 10 mins until golden and crisp.

smoked streaky bacon4 rashers

Step 3

Reduce the heat and add the 2 onions, 2 carrots, 2 celery sticks, 2 garlic cloves and the leaves from 2-3 sprigs rosemary, all finely chopped, then fry for 10 mins. Stir the veg often until it softens.

onions2

carrots2

celery sticks2

garlic cloves2

rosemary leaves2 sprigs

Step 4

Increase the heat to medium-high, add 500g beef mince and cook stirring for 3-4 mins until the meat is browned all over.

beef mince500g

Step 5

Add 2 tins plum tomatoes, the finely chopped leaves from ¾ small pack basil, 1 tsp dried oregano, 2 bay leaves, 2 tbsp tomato purée, 1 beef stock cube, 1 deseeded and finely chopped red chilli (if using), 125ml red wine and 6 halved cherry tomatoes. Stir with a wooden spoon, breaking up the plum tomatoes.

Step 6

Bring to the boil, reduce to a gentle simmer and cover with a lid. Cook for 1 hr 15 mins stirring occasionally, until you have a rich, thick sauce.

Step 7

Add the 75g grated parmesan, check the seasoning and stir.

Step 8

When the bolognese is nearly finished, cook 400g spaghetti following the pack instructions.

Step 9

Drain the spaghetti and either stir into the bolognese sauce, or serve the sauce on top. Serve with more grated parmesan, the remaining basil leaves and crusty bread, if you like.