Spaghetti Bolognese

[HeyWayne]

Ok, almost everyone can cook a bolognese (traditionalists stand down), but what ingredients do you put in yours?

It seems to be a dish that people always ask me to do if they come for dinner, and Bean loves it.

So, my ingredients (in pretty much the order they go in the pan):

Carrots
Onions
Celery
Bacon lardons
Anchovy paste
Edit (thanks Rhona): Finely chopped garlic
Beef Mince
Oxo cube
Hendersons relish
Tinned chopped tomatoes
Oregano
Tomato puree
Red wine
Edit: forgot the splash of balsamic vinegar
Worcestershire sauce
Dash of water
Black Olives
Capers
Olive Oil
Basil



Served with spaghetti (stirred through)

Topped with Parmesan

What goes in yours. I'd be interested to see how many variations we get.

[jaykay]

My spag bol recipe can vary depending on what's in the fridge! Usually it goes like this:

Lean minced beef
chopped bacon
garlic
onion
carrot
mushrooms
tomato puree paste
tinned chopped tomatoes
beef stock
red wine
mixed herbs
lentils

Served with spaghetti or pasta twists with a bit of grated cheese on top.

Have found that the sauce is really rich when everything is cooked on the hob then put in slow cooker and left on low for a few hours.

[Mac]

Mine changes every time too. But generally includes:

onion
garlic
mince
various herbs
chopped tomatoes
tomato puree
lea & perrins
chillis or cayene pepper
red wine vinegar
mushrooms

Love it with spag or with a baked spud with cheese grated on it!

[Bren In Pots]

Mr in Pots makes 4 meals worth in our Dutch oven

Olive Oil
Onions
Minced Steak
Carrots
Mushrooms
Tinned chopped tomatoes
Tomato puree
Red wine
Oregano
Bay leaves

served with home made pasta, garlic bread and Parmesan cheese.

[RedThorn]

I blend aubergine and pop that in too...sneaky way of feeding it to the kids

[OllieMartin]

Rather than list all the ingredients I like to vary it with:

Lamb mince instead of beef
Various Herbs & Spices
Mango Chutney

[stupot]

Mango chutney?! You mental

Mine's alonmg the lines of HeyWayne's with a few less capers and other things! I like to simmer my tomato sauce for a long time to get it really zingy. Always add a teaspoon of sugar, red wine vinegar, loads of black pepper and basil at the end to get the tommies tasting at their best...

and sometimes I add a spoon of Marmite ... shush! don't tell Mrs Curlystu-to-be.. she doesn't like it.

[RedThorn]

lol often add peach chutney to our's and wostershire sause too(veggie one)

[OllieMartin]

Mango chutney?! You mental

Yup, totally.

It's adds a kind of interesting fruity sweetness to it. I don't do it every time as it gets boring, but it's a nice change because it's quite subtle.

[SarzWix]

In order:

Celery
Onions
Garlic
Mince
Good handful of fresh herbs: Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme
Tomatoes (pref. own canned)
tomato puree

Cook all afternoon, then at last minute add freshly torn basil.

If we happen to have any, sometimes add lardons and/or finely chopped chorizo before the mince.

[HeyWayne]

Yup, totally.

It's adds a kind of interesting fruity sweetness to it. I don't do it every time as it gets boring, but it's a nice change because it's quite subtle.

Just be sure not to pick up yoru lime pickle by mistake.

[OllieMartin]

Just be sure not to pick up yoru lime pickle by mistake.

Someone told me to put lime juice in a chilli the other day. Might give that a go next time.

[HeyWayne]

Someone told me to put lime juice in a chilli the other day. Might give that a go next time.

Now that I can recommend.

[snuffer]

Am ashamed to admit that my recipe has just three ingredients.

Minced Beef
Jar of bolognese sauce (Dolmio or Loyd Grossman)
Spaghetti

Keep saying I should make my own sauce but never get round to it. Sorry for letting the side down guys.

[janeyo]

You lot are all weird. What's the carrot thing all about?!

We use, onion, garlic, mince, mushroom, tom puree, jar dolmio or the like (if I've no pureed sauce in the freezer), mixed herbs.

Sorted.