The Best Spag Bol Recipes

SPAG BOL

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onions and garlic until onions are tender. Stir in red bell pepper and saute 2 minutes.
• Place ground beef in the skillet and cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Stir in beef broth, diced tomatoes, wine and tomato paste. Bring to a boil and add celery, bay leaves and Italian seasoning.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour, or until sauce thickens.

SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4.
• Peel and finely chop the garlic and onions, pick and finely chop the rosemary, then finely slice the bacon.
• Heat a splash of oil in a casserole pan on a medium heat, add the bacon, rosemary, garlic and onion and cook for 5 minutes, or until softened, stirring occasionally.
• Add the minced beef, breaking it apart with the back of a spoon, then cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until starting to brown, then pour in the wine. Leave to bubble and cook away.
• Meanwhile, drain and tip the sun-dried tomatoes into a food processor, blitz to a paste, then add to the pan with the tomatoes. Stir well, break the plum tomatoes apart a little.
• Cover with a lid then place in the oven for 1 hour, removing the lid and giving it a stir after 30 minutes - if it looks a little dry at this stage, add a splash of water to help it along.
• About 10 minutes before the time is up, cook the spaghetti in boiling salted water according to the packet instructions.
• Once the spaghetti is cooked, drain, reserving a mugful of cooking water, then return to the pan with a few spoons of Bolognese, a good grating of Parmesan and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
• Toss to coat the spaghetti, loosening with a splash of cooking water, if needed.
• Divide the spaghetti between plates or bowls, add a good spoonful of Bolognese to each, then serve with a fine grating of Parmesan.

SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Finely chop the onions, carrot & celery.
• Add the olive oil & butter to a deep frying pan and place over a medium-high heat.
• Add the onions to the frying pan and sauté until they turn a light golden colour.
• Add the carrots & celery and continue sautéing until they change colour.
• Add the minced beef and a large pinch of salt & stir until all of the meat has browned.
• Add the wine & stir occasionally, until it has completely evaporated.
• Once the wine has evaporated, add the milk and nutmeg & stir occasionally, until it also has completely evaporated.
• Once the milk has evaporated, add the chopped tomatoes & stir.
• Once the tomatoes begin to bubble, turn down the heat to very low and allow to simmer uncovered for at least 3 hours, stirring occasionally.
• (Add water if/when the ragu absorbs all of the liquid to prevent it from burning. You can repeat this many times; it is better to add little and often than add a lot at once).
• Once the ragu has been cooking for several hours and has reached its desired rich, creamy, silky smooth consistency, prepare your "base".
• Place a saucepan of water over a high heat and wait for it to boil.
• Once the water is boiling, add the spaghetti, a splash of olive oil and pinch of salt, & boil for 10 minutes.
• Taste the spaghetti to check it has softened to your personal taste and, once it has, turn off the heat for both the spaghetti and ragu & plate up.
• Serve with grated parmesan.
• Enjoy!

THE BEST SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE RECIPE

Steps:

• Put a large saucepan on a medium heat and add 1 tbsp olive oil.
• Add 4 finely chopped bacon rashers and fry for 10 mins until golden and crisp.
• Reduce the heat and add the 2 onions, 2 carrots, 2 celery sticks, 2 garlic cloves and the leaves from 2-3 sprigs rosemary, all finely chopped, then fry for 10 mins. Stir the veg often until it softens.
• Increase the heat to medium-high, add 500g beef mince and cook stirring for 3-4 mins until the meat is browned all over.
• Add 2 tins plum tomatoes, the finely chopped leaves from ¾ small pack basil, 1 tsp dried oregano, 2 bay leaves, 2 tbsp tomato purée, 1 beef stock cube, 1 deseeded and finely chopped red chilli (if using), 125ml red wine and 6 halved cherry tomatoes. Stir with a wooden spoon, breaking up the plum tomatoes.
• Bring to the boil, reduce to a gentle simmer and cover with a lid. Cook for 1 hr 15 mins stirring occasionally, until you have a rich, thick sauce.
• Add the 75g grated parmesan, check the seasoning and stir.
• When the bolognese is nearly finished, cook 400g spaghetti following the pack instructions.
• Drain the spaghetti and either stir into the bolognese sauce, or serve the sauce on top. Serve with more grated parmesan, the remaining basil leaves and crusty bread, if you like.