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–+ servings
A plate of spaghetti topped with a rich meat sauce, garnished with grated cheese. A fork twirls some pasta. The dish is served on a white plate set on a wooden table.

Ultimate Spaghetti Bolognese

Lauren
This Ultimate Spaghetti Bolognese is bolognese ragu unlike you've ever had it before! You think you've had good bolognese? Wait until you make this one!
This is a great batch cook meal; as you can freeze portions for a later date, jazz it up with some cheese for a pasta bake or use it in a lasagne. 
5 from 6 votes
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6
Calories 694 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 50 ml olive oil
  • 2 carrots⁣
  • 3 sticks celery⁣⁣
  • 1 brown onion⁣⁣
  • 1 pack white mushrooms
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 pack smoked streaky bacon⁣⁣
  • 500 g beef mince⁣⁣
  • ½ teaspoon chilli flakes⁣⁣
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon mixed herbs⁣⁣
  • 3 tablespoon tomato puree⁣⁣
  • 200 ml red wine
  • 400 g chopped tomatoes⁣⁣
  • 330 ml tomato passata
  • 1 ham stock cube dissolved in volume of water below
  • 300 ml water
  • 500 gram spaghetti

Instructions
 

  • Prepare all vegetables by cutting up finely (2 carrots⁣, 3 sticks celery⁣⁣, 1 brown onion⁣⁣, 1 pack white mushrooms & 3 garlic cloves)
  • Add 50 ml olive oil to pot and brown off 500 g beef mince⁣⁣ & 1 pack smoked streaky bacon⁣⁣ (chopped) with 1 tablespoon mixed herbs⁣⁣, 1 teaspoon salt & ½ teaspoon chilli flakes⁣⁣
  • Once browned, add in all the chopped vegetables & garlic - cook until softened
  • Add 3 tablespoon tomato puree⁣⁣ & 200 ml red wine and simmer until wine has reduced
  • Add 1 ham stock cube dissolved in 300 ml water, 330 ml tomato passata and 400 g chopped tomatoes⁣⁣ - stir, place lid on the pot and simmer on low/medium for approx. 3 hours, stirring occasionally
  • Cook 500 gram spaghetti in boiling salted water until al dente
  • Serve either on top of spaghetti or through it … and may the Italian gods be kind on your soul if you choose the former

Notes

There are a couple of essentials to making this dish...
  1. Good Quality Tomatoes and Wine - I use Mutti brand tomatoes and the general rule when cooking with wine is to pick something you’d be happy to drink.
  2. Browning off the beef mince (ground beef) + rendering the fat on the bacon - this will add an additional layer of complexity to the dish. And if you can buy your mince from a local butcher, then even better. The quality is far superior and this translates directly into the bolognese sauce!
  3. Factor in adequate simmering time to ensure the ragu has time to develop its depth of flavour. 
And my secret weapon for ultimate flavour?
Add a rind (the hard outside bit you normally throw away) of parmesan - I add them to a bag I have in the freezer when I finish them - to the bolognese ragu whilst it's simmering and reducing down. It adds an extra oomph that we all want, trust me!

Nutrition

Calories: 694kcalCarbohydrates: 77gProtein: 28gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 687mgPotassium: 1088mgFiber: 6gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 4044IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 92mgIron: 5mg
Keyword beef mince bolognese ragu, Beef Mince Spaghetti Bolognese Ragu, bolognese meat sauce, spaghetti bolognaise
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