The Best Spag Bol Recipes

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.

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.

Steps:

• Over a moderate heat, soften onions and celery, add garlic and bacon and fry until cooked.
• Add mince, this can either be done in batches or else all at the same time, depending on the size of your pan. Let cook through for a few mins, drain the fat if needed carefully, there can be quite a lot depending on what kind of mince you are using.
• Stir in tomato puree, let cook for a minute and then add the tinned tomatoes. I use 2 tins and some water if you like a thinner sauce. Season lightly and let simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add the herbs and sugar, these can be added according to taste. Let simmer for another 10 mins and adjust seasoning. Add mushrooms near the end of cooking, giving them a chance to soften but still keep their shape.
• Serve with spaghetti straight away.