Spaghetti Bolognese

Spaghetti Bolognese

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Spaghetti Bolognese served in a white dish with grated parmesan cheese garnish

A classic Italian-inspired dish with a rich, meaty sauce served over perfectly cooked spaghetti. Slow-simmered for deep flavors, it’s a beloved comfort food, featuring minced steak, onions, tomatoes, and aromatic herbs. Topped with grated parmesan, it’s a timeless favorite.

Recipe Details

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 hours
• Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
• Servings: 5 servings
• Course: Dinner
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 290 kcal
• Protein: 35g
• Carbs: 10g
• Fat: 12g
• Fiber: 3g
• Sugar: 6g

Ingredients

• 2 medium onions
• 750g (1.5 pounds) minced steak
• 470g (15 ounces) can of whole tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons of tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon of basil
• 1 teaspoon of oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon of thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1.25 liters (5 cups) of water
• Grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Heat some oil in a large saucepan. Add the peeled and chopped onions and sauté them gently until they become tender.
2. Add the minced steak to the saucepan and stir over high heat until the meat turns dark golden brown, mashing the meat well.
3. Add the undrained tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, and thyme. Mix everything well.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Pour in the water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for about 2 hours or until most of the liquid evaporates.
6. While the sauce simmers, cook your favorite spaghetti according to package directions.
7. Serve the sauce hot over cooked spaghetti.
8. Top with grated parmesan cheese.
9. Enjoy your homemade Spaghetti Bolognese!

FAQs – Table of Contents

1. What is Spaghetti Bolognese?
2. What wine pairs well with Spaghetti Bolognese?
3. What type of meat is used?
4. Can I use other meats?
5. Preparation time?
6. What gives the sauce its rich flavor?
7. Whole tomatoes vs diced?
8. Can I use fresh tomatoes?
9. Alternative pasta shapes?
10. Prevent meat clumping?
11. Make ahead & reheating?
12. Vegetarian version?
13. Side dishes?
14. Freezing leftovers?
15. Adjusting seasoning?
16. Bolognese vs marinara?
17. Ground chicken/turkey option?
18. Spicy version?
19. Gluten-free pasta?
20. Scaling for a crowd?

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Spaghetti Bolognese?
   Spaghetti Bolognese is a traditional Italian pasta dish made with spaghetti noodles and a rich, savory meat sauce (Bolognese). The sauce typically includes ground beef (or another meat), onions, garlic, tomatoes, herbs, and is slow-simmered for deep flavor.
2. What wine pairs well with Spaghetti Bolognese?
   Medium to full-bodied red wines such as Chianti, Sangiovese, or Barbera pair wonderfully, complementing the richness of the meat sauce.
3. What type of meat is used?
   Minced steak (ground beef) is used here for a hearty texture and flavor.
4. Can I use other meats?
   Yes. You can substitute with ground pork, turkey, chicken, or a combination for a different profile.
5. How long does it take to prepare?
   Prep is about 20 minutes, cook time ~2 hours, total ~2 hours 20 minutes.
6. What gives the sauce its rich flavor?
   Slow cooking meat with onions, garlic, herbs, tomatoes, and paste melds flavors deeply over low heat.
7. Whole tomatoes vs diced?
   Whole peeled tomatoes give a chunkier texture; diced works too if simmered until broken down.
8. Can I use fresh tomatoes?
   Yes, blanch and peel first. Canned tomatoes (e.g., San Marzano) are preferred for consistency.
9. Alternative pasta shapes?
   Fettuccine, linguine, tagliatelle, penne, etc. Any that hold sauce well.
10. How to prevent meat clumping?
    Break up meat with spoon while browning; stir often and avoid overcrowding pan.
11. Can I make ahead & reheat?
    Yes; sauce tastes even better next day. Refrigerate and reheat gently.
12. Vegetarian version?
    Use lentils, mushrooms, or plant-based ground meat substitute in place of beef.
13. What side dishes go well?
    Garlic bread, green salad, roasted vegetables, or extra parmesan and fresh herbs.
14. Can I freeze leftovers?
    Yes; cool completely, store in airtight containers in freezer up to 3 months.
15. How to adjust seasoning?
    Taste as it simmers; add salt, pepper, herbs, or pinch of sugar to balance acidity.
16. Bolognese vs marinara?
    Bolognese is meat-based, slow-simmered; marinara is quicker tomato-only sauce without meat.
17. Ground chicken/turkey option?
    Yes; leaner option, adjust oil/butter for richness.
18. Spicy version?
    Add red pepper flakes or chili for a subtle kick.
19. Gluten-free pasta?
    Use rice-, corn-, or quinoa-based gluten-free pasta; cook per package directions.
20. Scaling for a crowd?
    Double/triple ingredients; use large pot. Sauce freezes and reheats well.