Guest Recipe: Amy's Hearty Spaghetti Bolognese

The dark and cold nights often call for a winter warmer recipe to keep the house cosy and our bellies full.

If you want to bring some warmth into the colder months this winter, we have the perfect, easy-to-follow recipe that’s the perfect dish for a mid-week pick-me-up.

This hearty, tasty winter meal will leave you feeling fuller for longer and is a low-cost choice in the food shop.

• Prep Time: 10 min
• Cook Time: 1 hr
• Total Time: 1 hr 20 min

Serves: 4-6 servings

Category: Beef,Pasta,Dinner

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 400g mince
• 400g spaghetti
• 1 carrot, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 tbsp tomato puree
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 100ml red wine
• 400ml beef stock
• Salt and pepper to taste

Equipment

• 2 saucepans
• 1 sharp knife
• 1 wooden spoon
• 1 chopping board
• 500ml measuring jug
• 1 colander
• 1 bowl

Method

1. Add 1 tbsp of olive oil to a saucepan and turn to medium heat. Then, brown off the mince in the same pan in batches so that the pan is not overcrowded.
2. Remove the mince from the pan once it’s fully cooked and set aside in a medium-sized bowl.
3. Then, once all of the meat is cooked, add the mince back into the pan along with the beef stock, tinned tomatoes, and red wine.
4. Add another tbsp of olive oil to the pan, with the addition of the carrots and onions. Cook the veggies until softened (around 4-5 minutes).
5. Stir in the finely chopped garlic and cook for around 2 minutes.
6. Pop in the tomato puree and cook for around 2 minutes. Make sure to stir occasionally to combine all the ingredients and mix in the flavour.
7. Bring the bolognese to a boil and leave it to simmer for approximately 45 minutes. Leaving the bolognese to simmer for longer deepens the flavour.
8. Make sure to season with salt and pepper to taste.
9. Bring a pan of heavily salted water to a boil.
10. Add the spaghetti and cook until al-dente (around 10 minutes). Then, drain the spaghetti once cooked.
11. Plate the spaghetti and top with the bolognese. Add a sprinkling of parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy!

A classic spaghetti bolognese requires minimal ingredients and incorporates many household staples in the kitchen cupboards.

This is a dish that you can add dark chocolate or red wine for a little decadence, or purchase a pre-made sauce and use staple veggies for a simplistic but oh-so-tasty dish. Why not share with a glass of red wine around the dinner table and pair it with cheesy garlic bread for a sumptuous result?

Amy is a Lifestyle Blogger, Copywriter, and Social Media Community Manager. You can check out her Instagram for dreamy lifestyle shots, aesthetic cocktails, and an iced coffee or too. Amy also regularly shares her client work here so you can find out the latest projects she's working on.