🍝 Hearty Spaghetti Bolognese
A delicious, rich Bolognese sauce paired with tender spaghetti — the perfect comfort meal!
📝 Ingredients:
- For the Bolognese Sauce:
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef, pork, or a mix of both 🍖
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped 🧅
- 3 cloves garlic, minced 🧄
- 1 large carrot, diced 🥕
- 1 celery stalk, diced 🌿
- 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes 🍅
- 1 cup red wine (optional but adds depth of flavor) 🍷
- 1 cup beef broth 🍖
- 2 tbsp tomato paste 🍅
- 1 tsp dried oregano 🌿
- 1 tsp dried basil 🌿
- ½ tsp dried thyme 🌿
- Salt and black pepper to taste 🧂
- 1 tbsp olive oil 🫒
- For the Pasta:
- 1 lb (450g) spaghetti 🍝
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving 🧀
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish 🌿
👨🍳 Instructions:
1️⃣ Cook the Spaghetti:
- Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
2️⃣ Brown the Meat:
- In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Add the ground meat to the pan, breaking it up as it cooks. Brown the meat for 5-7 minutes. Once browned, remove any excess fat.
3️⃣ Sauté the Vegetables:
- Add the chopped onion, carrot, and celery to the pan with the browned meat. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until the vegetables are soft and the onion is translucent.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
4️⃣ Add Tomatoes and Liquids:
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, beef broth, and red wine (if using). Stir everything together and bring it to a simmer.
- Season with oregano, basil, thyme, salt, and pepper. Let the sauce simmer uncovered for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and flavorful. If the sauce becomes too thick, add some reserved pasta water to loosen it.
5️⃣ Combine the Pasta and Sauce:
- Once the sauce has thickened and developed its rich flavor, taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- Add the cooked spaghetti to the sauce and toss well to coat. If the sauce is too thick, add more reserved pasta water to get your desired consistency.
6️⃣ Serve:
- Plate the spaghetti and top with the Bolognese sauce. Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
