Description
This spaghetti bolognese features rich, savory meat sauce made with ground beef and fresh tomatoes. It’s a simple and satisfying dish, perfect for a quick dinner or a comforting meal at home.
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 (spaghetti recommended)
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat.
- Add onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add ground beef, sprinkle with salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper. Cook until browned, crumbling the meat as needed. Drain excess grease if necessary.
- Mix in tomato paste and sugar, stirring until browned and caramelized for about 1-2 minutes.
- Pour in red wine, scraping the bottom to loosen any browned bits. Cook until reduced by half, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add water and canned tomatoes, breaking them up as you stir.
- Incorporate basil, parsley, oregano, and the bay leaf. Stir until combined. Simmer for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While the sauce simmers, cook pasta according to package instructions. Combine pasta and sauce or serve separately. If mixing, reserve ¼ cup pasta water before draining and stir it into the meat sauce along with the pasta.
- Serve with grated parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
Using fresh herbs can enhance the flavor of the sauce.
Feel free to substitute ground beef with Italian sausage for a different flavor profile.
This sauce is also great for making lasagna or other pasta dishes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of the dish
- Calories: 465
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 670mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 70mg