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Bolognese Sauce Recipe

This Bolognese Sauce Recipe is so versatile, plus it is the most delicious homemade spaghetti sauce recipe around.

Here is a smart idea if you are budget meal planning: make double of this sauce. Use half now with your choice of pasta. Use the other half for the best Lasagna recipe. See other meal planning ideas below. Alternatively, pack leftovers into suitable containers and you will be rewarded with a batch of easy freezer meals.

The key to this Bolognese Sauce Recipe is the long slow cook. Don't stint and be tempted to cut corners. Stick the casserole pan in the oven and cook it for the full 2 hours. At the end of this time, I generally turn the oven off and leave the pan in the oven until it has cooled, or even overnight. The result is a meltingly rich sauce which simply can't be achieved by a quick 20 minute simmer.

Easy

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 2 hours

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

2lbs / 900g ground beef

2 onions, chopped

1 clove garlic, crushed

2 cans peeled tomatoes (about 4 cups)

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 cup beef stock

½ cup red wine (optional)

1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried oregano)

a little oil for shallow frying

You will need a casserole dish with a lid. It is worth using one that can be used on the hob as well to save on washing-up.

Method:

Heat the oven to 350° F / 180° C.
On top of the hob, heat a little oil in a frying pan or casserole pan. Brown the ground beef in 4 - 5 batches. If you attempt to brown it all at once, you will land up with a gray, watery mass.
Brown the onions until they are a deep caramel color. This helps to give the dish flavor. Add the garlic.
Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, beef stock, wine and oregano. Place a lid on the casserole pan and bake the ground beef in the oven for about 2 hours. Check the sauce every ½ hour and add a little extra liquid if necessary.
Serve with pasta and a big salad.

Budget meal planning tip - make a double quantity and use the other half as a base for Easy Lasagna Recipe, Cottage Pie Recipe, Beef and Noodle Casserole or Meat Pie Recipe.