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Big-batch bolognese

Spaghetti bolognese in a white bowl with parmesan

Big-batch bolognese

Name: Big-batch bolognese
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 1 h 55 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 4 tbsp olive oil; 6 smoked bacon rashers, chopped; 4 onions finely chopped; 3 carrots finely chopped; 4 celery sticks, finely chopped; 8 garlic cloves crushed; 2 tbsp dried mixed herbs; 2 bay leaves; 500g mushrooms sliced; 1½ kg lean minced beef (or use half beef, half pork mince); 6 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes; 6 tbsp tomato purée; large glass red wine (optional); 4 tbsp red wine vinegar; 1 tbsp sugar; parmesan to serve

Barney Desmazery

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Serves 12

Easy

Prep: 25 mins

Cook: 1 hr and 30 mins

A star rating of 4.7 out of 5.108 ratingsRate

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Whip up a huge batch of bolognese that's fit to feed a hungry crowd, or freeze half for a speedy midweek meal

Easily halved

Freezable

Egg-free

Gluten-free

Healthy

High-protein

Nut-free

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A star rating of 4.7 out of 5.152 ratings

Ingredients

Nutrition

Units:

MetricUS

4 tbsp olive oil
6 smoked bacon

rashers, chopped
4 onions

finely chopped
3 carrots

finely chopped
4 celery

sticks, finely chopped
8 garlic cloves

crushed
2 tbsp dried mixed herbs
2 bay leaves
500g mushrooms

sliced
1½ kg lean minced beef

(or use half beef, half pork mince)
6 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
6 tbsp tomato purée
large glass red wine

(optional)
4 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tbsp sugar
parmesan

to serve

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Nutrition: per serving

kcal295
fat12g
saturates4g
carbs13g
sugars11g

low
fibre4g
protein34g

high
salt0.87g

low

Method

step 1

Heat the oil in a very large saucepan. Gently cook the bacon, onions, carrots and celery for 20 mins until golden. Add the garlic, herbs, bay and mushrooms, then cook for 2 mins more.
step 2

Heat a large frying pan until really hot. Crumble in just enough mince to cover the pan, cook until brown, then tip in with the veg. Continue to fry the mince in batches until used up. Tip the tomatoes and purée in with the mince and veg. Rinse the cans out with the red wine, if you have some, or with a little water, then add to the pan with the vinegar and sugar. Season generously and bring to a simmer. Simmer slowly for 1 hr until thick and saucy and the mince is tender. Serve with pasta and parmesan.
step 3

If you want to make this in a slow cooker, visit our slow cooker bolognese recipe.

RECIPE TIPS

MOROCCAN MINCE

Use lamb mince instead of beef, swap the mixed herbs for 2 tbsp each ground cinnamon and cumin, and use 2 handfuls dried apricots instead of mushrooms.

BOLOGNESE BAKE

Boil 2kg potatoes until tender, drain, then mash with 100g butter and 100g grated cheese. Spoon the mince between 2 large baking dishes and top with the mash. Bake at 200C/180C fan/gas 6 until golden and bubbling.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, October 2010

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A star rating of 4.7 out of 5.108 ratings

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