The Best Spaghetti Bolognaise Recipe - Family Cooking
Table of Contents
Recipe For Spag Bol
I love a classic spaghetti bolognaise recipe and this is an easy meal in our home for those busy weeknights!
If you need dinner ideas that will be a winner each time you will have to save this comfort food recipe.
I have used beef mince as I think this is the most authentic bolognaise sauce!
You can if you wanted use a mix of beef mince and pork mince, but I feel beef mince works the best for this easy recipe!
The secret ingredient that makes this recipe is the balsamic vinegar at the end! Just stirring through the vinegar really adds to the flavour and brings all of the simple ingredients together!
I have teamed this easy spaghetti bolognaise with spaghetti but you can use your pasta of choice! Fresh pasta is always an option too of course, but feel free to use your child’s favourite!
If you wanted to disguise more veggies in this bolognaise, you could add grated carrot, celery or beetroot in this pasta dish!
The longer you cook this recipe the better! If you wanted to make this ahead of time, you could pop all the ingredients into the slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8-10 hours!
You will have the same delicious bolognaise when you get home from work! Healthy recipes do not have to be tasteless. You will find how to make spaghetti bolognaise below.
Fresh Herbs For Spag Bol
Using dried mixed herbs and basil in a spaghetti bolognese recipe is an excellent way to introduce your little one to the vibrant flavours of Italian cuisine while adhering to baby-led weaning principles.
The dried mixed herbs bring a fragrant blend of oregano, thyme, and rosemary that perfectly complements the rich tomato sauce, providing a depth of flavour without overwhelming young taste buds.
Fresh herbs such as basil, added just before serving, adds a sweet and peppery note that enhances the dish's freshness.
This combination not only makes the bolognese more appealing for your baby but also encourages them to explore new tastes and textures in a wholesome, homemade meal that's easy for little hands to manage.
You will have to give this one a try and let me know what you think!
Does dried pasta go bad?
Dried pasta has a long shelf life and can generally last for years when stored properly in a cool, dry place. However, while it doesn't spoil in the traditional sense, its quality can decline over time.
When considering dried pasta for babies, it’s important to check for signs of spoilage, such as an off smell, discolouration, or visible mould.
If the pasta has been kept in an airtight container and shows no signs of degradation, it should still be safe to consume.
For optimal taste and texture, it's advisable to use dried pasta that is within its best before date when preparing meals for your little one, as this ensures a more pleasant eating experience.
Ingredient information
Beef mince - I have used beef mince or ground beef as this is a classic for a bolognaise sauce in my opinion! You could use a mixture of beef and pork mince if you like.
Onion - A medium to large onion will work here, you don’t have to be fancy with the chopping.
Courgette - I have grated the courgette as this is a great way to disguise a vegetable in a sauce!
Garlic - I have roughly chopped the garlic, you could use a garlic crusher if you wish. The best way i find is grating.
Mixed herbs - I have used these herbs as I know I always have mixed herbs in the cupboard.
Basil - I have used dried basil as I always have this in the cupboard too, if you wanted to use fresh basil, add this into the bolognaise when you add in the balsamic vinegar.
Stock cube - I have used a chicken stock cube with zero salt for this recipe, you could use a beef zero salt stock cube, I like the chicken stock cube in this recipe.
Tomato passata - I find a passata is always great for sauces and this is perfect for a bolognaise. You could use 2 tins of chopped tomatoes if you have those and prefer them. You could also pop in some cherry tomatoes or plum tomatoes, I frequently do this when I have tomatoes on the turn to use up.
Tomato puree/tomato paste - I always add a touch of tomato puree or tomato paste to a bolognaise to add richness to the tomato sauce.
Balsamic vinegar - I love to add some balsamic to the bolognaise as this is needed for flavour! Try it!
Serving suggestion
As you can see in the photo I have served this with spaghetti and some grated cheese! These are classic sides with the bolognaise in my opinion!
You could serve this with any pasta shape your child enjoys. Orzo pasta is great too for a smaller pasta that you could mix into the bolognaise!
A bolognaise is also great served over a jacket potato with some grated cheese and cucumber sticks!
Other recipes you may like: Cannelloni bolognaise, Tuna pasta bake or Creamy chicken orzo pasta bake.
Storage instructions
The bolognaise can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days, stored in an airtight container, or you could use a container with plastic wrap to cover the bolognaise.
If you wanted to freeze the bolognaise, you will need to store in an airtight container.
Make sure the bolognaise has cooled to room temperature before transferring to an airtight container to the freezer.
To defrost the bolognaise leave in the fridge overnight, and make sure it has fully defrosted.
To reheat the bolognaise, transfer to a preheated oven on 180C or 350F and reheat on a medium-high heat.
Once the bolognaise has been defrosted and reheated you will not be able to re-freeze.
Recipe | The Best Spaghetti Bolognaise Recipe - Family Cooking
The Best Spaghetti Bolognaise Recipe - Family Cooking
Ingredients
Instructions
- Start by heating the olive oil in a large pot.
- Add in the onion and courgette and cook with the lid on, for 15 minutes on a medium heat. Add in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Next add in the beef and break up using a wooden spoon. Brown the mince for 5 minutes or so.
- Next add in the herbs, passata, stock cube, water and tomato purée and a little bit of black pepper, give it a good stir and turn the heat down, pop the lid on and cook for a gentle simmer for 30 minutes. If you have 45 minutes that would be even better.
- The meat sauce should have darkened in colour and have a rich flavour.
- Stir In the balsamic vinegar and serve with your choice of side. We chose spaghetti and cheddar cheese.
Notes
To make this recipe gluten free, you could substitute the spaghetti for a gluten free spaghetti.
The actual bolognaise is gluten free, it is just the spaghetti that makes this recipe not gluten free!
Equally if you wanted to make the recipe vegan you could substitute the mince for a vegan mince! Or you could use a mix of green lentils and puy lentils.
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