Description
This Spaghetti Bolognese features a rich and savory meat sauce combined with perfectly cooked pasta. It’s simple to make and packed with flavor, perfect for a weeknight meal or family gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 lb ground beef (85 or 90%)
- ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon cracked pepper
- â…› teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- â…“ cup dry red wine
- ¼ cup water
- 28 oz canned whole peeled tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 dried bay leaf
- 8–12 oz pasta for serving
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
- Add finely chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add ground beef to the pan, seasoning with salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper. Cook until browned, draining excess grease as needed.
- Stir in tomato paste and sugar, cooking until the tomato paste is brown and caramelized, about 1-2 minutes.
- Pour in the red wine, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen browned bits. Cook until reduced by half, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add water and whole peeled tomatoes, breaking them up as you mix.
- Incorporate dried basil, parsley, oregano, and the bay leaf, stirring well. Simmer for at least 30 minutes with a slightly open lid, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package instructions.
- Combine the cooked pasta with the sauce, adding reserved pasta water to achieve desired consistency. Simmer briefly until the sauce clings to the pasta.
- Serve topped with parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
For a deeper flavor, use beef broth instead of water.
Feel free to use Italian sausage for a spicier variant.
The sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated, improving its flavor overnight.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg