Spaghetti Bolognese

4h 30m
Serves 1
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Directions

  1. 1Dice the carrots and zucchini for blending.
  2. 2Blend the zucchini, carrots, and canned tomatoes until smooth.
  3. 3Add butter and olive oil to the pot.
  4. 4Add chopped onions and garlic to the pot.
  5. 5Add oregano, thyme, dried basil, mild chili flakes, fennel seeds, salt, pepper, and tomato paste to the pot with the onions and garlic, and stir to brown them together.
  6. 6Add beef mince to the pot and brown it until all the water has cooked out.
  7. 7Pour in the blended vegetable and tomato mixture.
  8. 8Add two bay leaves, one beef stock cube, and two cloves to the sauce.
  9. 9Slow cook the bolognese on high for 4 hours (or 8 hours if time permits).
  10. 10After slow cooking, add a tiny bit of dark chocolate to the bolognese.
  11. 11Add a splash of milk to the bolognese and stir until creamy.
  12. 12Transfer the bolognese into containers.

Ingredients

  • butter
  • olive oil
  • onion
  • garlic
  • 1 tbsp oregano
  • 1 tsp thyme
  • 0.5 tsp dried basil
  • 0.5 tsp mild chilli flakes
  • fennel seeds
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 3 tbsp tomato paste
  • 4 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 kilo beef mince
  • 3 carrots
  • 1 zucchini
  • 3 tins of tomatoes
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 beef stock cube
  • 2 cloves
  • a tiny little bit dark chocolate
  • milk

Equipment

crockpotblenderchopping boardknifewooden spoonwhisk

Tips

  • Blending vegetables ensures a smooth restaurant-style bolognese without visible chunks.
  • Adding tomato paste and seasonings while browning onions and garlic enhances flavors.
  • Browning the beef mince until all water has cooked out leaves just the oil, which is ideal for the sauce.
  • Adding a tiny bit of dark chocolate gives the bolognese more depth of flavor.
  • Milk at the end makes the bolognese creamier and helps soak up leftover oil.
  • Slow-cooking for 8 hours is preferred, but 4 hours on high can also work.