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Lighter bolognese sauce

Name: Lighter bolognese sauce
Yield: Serves 8 (2 meals for 4)
Cuisine: Italian recipes
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 onion, finely chopped; 1 celery stick, finely chopped; 1 carrot, finely chopped (see tips); 250g mushrooms, finely chopped; 4 garlic cloves, crushed; 1 tsp dried oregano; 750g pork mince; 250g beef mince (see tips); 2 tbsp tomato purée; 2 bay leaves; 2 thyme sprigs; 400g tin chopped tomatoes; 350ml beef stock, hot; 400ml tomato passata

Published: 31 Oct 18
Updated: 18 Mar 24

A pot of bolognese simmering away on the stove is a joy for the senses. Serve half straight from the pot, then freeze the rest and use it later.

Easy
September 2018

Test kitchen approved

Serves 8 (2 meals for 4)
Hands-on time 30 min, simmering time 1 hour 15 min

A pot of bolognese simmering away on the stove is a joy for the senses. Serve half straight from the pot, then freeze the rest and use it later.

Dairy-free recipes

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 281kcals
Fat: 15.9g (5.9g saturated)
Protein: 27g
Carbohydrates: 6.5g (5.5g sugars)
Fibre: 2.1g
Salt: 0.7g

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Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 celery stick, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped (see tips)
250g mushrooms, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tsp dried oregano
750g pork mince
250g beef mince (see tips)
2 tbsp tomato purée
2 bay leaves
2 thyme sprigs
400g tin chopped tomatoes
350ml beef stock, hot
400ml tomato passata

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Method

Heat the olive oil in a large heavy-based saucepan with a lid over a medium heat. Fry the onion, celery, carrot and mushrooms for 15 minutes until the veg are softened and the onion is translucent. Stir in the crushed garlic and oregano and fry for 2 minutes more.
Add the pork and beef mince and fry for 5 minutes until it starts to brown, breaking up the mince and stirring with a wooden spoon as it fries. Add the tomato purée, bay leaves and thyme and stir well.
Pour in the chopped tomatoes, rinse out the tin with the hot stock and add it to the pan, then stir in the passata. Bring the sauce to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover with the lid. Simmer for 1 hour, then remove the lid and bubble gently to reduce the liquid for around 15 minutes.

Taste and season the sauce with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve half the bolognese sauce with freshly cooked pasta and grated parmesan or on jacket potatoes with some soured cream.

Recipe from September 2018 Issue

Nutrition

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 281kcals
Fat: 15.9g (5.9g saturated)
Protein: 27g
Carbohydrates: 6.5g (5.5g sugars)
Fibre: 2.1g
Salt: 0.7g

delicious. tips

Save time with the veg prep by using a box grater to grate the carrot and mushrooms.

Substitute the beef mince for British rose veal mince if you prefer a sauce with a lighter texture.
This will keep, covered, in the fridge for 3 days. Or freeze for up to 3 months.