Basic Bolognese

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My favourite childhood meal was spaghetti bolognese. I’d come home from school and follow the scent of simmering meaty bolognese sauce to the kitchen and try to sneak a few spoonfuls from the pot before my mom caught me red mouthed.

Ok, ok I still do this at 33 years old. Still my favourite meal, and my mom still does it best. My girls have also inherited my love for spag bol, as they ask for it at least three times a week and I happily oblige. After all, a big pot of spaghetti bolognese is the ultimate comfort food, and God knows I need all the comfort I can get after chasing around three year olds all day (and occasionally at night).

Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound tomatoes, blended with one cup of water
2 tablespoons tomato paste
Salt and pepper to taste
Cinnamon powder to taste
Oregano/basil/rosemary (optional)
Sugar to taste (optional)
1 tablespoon oil

Directions: 

Put blended tomatoes into a pot (tomatoes are blended with a cup of water).

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Add tomato paste.

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Boil until it turns into a bright red sauce, around 15 minutes. Taste and add a little sugar if you like.

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In another pot, sauté onions until translucent. Then add garlic and sauté another 30 seconds so it doesn’t burn.
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Add beef, salt, pepper, cinnamon powder and any herbs you like.

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Brown meat for around ten minutes.

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Add tomato sauce to meat.

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Simmer for around 30 minutes being careful to add water accordingly. You could totally let it cook longer on lower heat. Feel free to do plenty of taste testing.

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Boil some spaghetti and get in there.

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Basic Bolognese

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 large onion (finely chopped)
  • 2 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 1 pound tomatoes (blended with one cup of water)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Cinnamon powder to taste
  • Oregano/basil/rosemary (optional)
  • Sugar to taste (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  1. Put blended tomatoes into a pot (tomatoes are blended with a cup of water).
  2. Add tomato paste.
  3. Boil until it turns into a bright red sauce, around 15 minutes. Taste and add a little sugar if you like.
  4. In another pot, sauté onions until translucent. Then add garlic and sauté another 30 seconds so it doesn’t burn.
  5. Add beef, salt, pepper, cinnamon powder and any herbs you like.
  6. Brown meat for around ten minutes.
  7. Add tomato sauce to meat.
  8. Simmer for around 30 minutes being careful to add water accordingly. You could totally let it cook longer on lower heat. Feel free to do plenty of taste testing.
  9. Serve with spaghetti

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