Helen’s Home Cooking: Video & Recipe for Spaghetti Bolognese

Do you reach for jars of pre-made Bolognese sauce? They are sadly almost all full of salt and sugar. Here is a simple alternative which should cost approximately 1/2 the price of shop bought ones and will be a healthy tasty option. Bolognese for me is a dish that can be made with whatever you have to hand and although in this recipe I am using bacon, mushroom and red pepper, I as often omit them as include them.

View video here

Spaghetti Bolognese

serves 4

spaghetti-bolognese

  • 2 tbls olive oil
  • 200g mince
  • 3-4 rashers smoked bacon/lardons
  • Tin of chopped tomatoes
  • Tomato passata – a whole jar/can
  • 2 cloves garlic/ 2 tsp garlic granules
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 1 red pepper diced
  • a few mushrooms sliced
  • 1 stock cube
  • 1/2 tsp Mixed herbs
  • 1/2 tsp chilli flakes (optional)

 

  1. In heated oil fry the onions, mushrooms and red pepper for 5-10 mins while covered, stir occasionally; this releases the natural sweetness which shall hopefully compensate for any bitterness in the tomatoes.
  2. Add the mince, bacon and garlic and further fry for a few minutes until the mince has browned.
  3. Add tomatoes, tomato passata, stock cube, herbs and chilli and bring to the boil.
  4. Cook for around 40 mins or until a film of oil appears on the top.
  5. Carefully taste at this point and if your dish is a little bitter, add some sugar approx 1/2 tsp at a time.
  6. Add black pepper to taste.
  7. Serve with pasta of your choice, topping with a little grated cheese.

Top Tip. By adding an extra tin of tomatoes, 1/4 pint of water and 2 tbls of tomato purée you should have sufficient sauce leftover to fill cannelloni shells for a second meal making this dish exceptional value for money.

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