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Weeknight Bolognese
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Weeknight Bolognese

A great pasta dish for the whole family
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 4
Author Claudine

Ingredients

  • 1 small onion, cut into 4 chunks
  • 1 large carrot, cut into chunks
  • 1 rib of celery, cut into chunks
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 t oregano
  • 1/4 t hot pepper flakes
  • 8 large mushrooms about 8 oz
  • 10 oz extra lean ground beef*
  • 2 T olive oil
  • 2 T butter
  • 3 T tomato paste
  • 28 oz can diced tomatoes with juices
  • 1 T Asian fish sauce
  • 2 t soy sauce
  • 1/3 c Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
  • 1 lb penne or spaghetti
  • chopped parsley or basil for garnish

Instructions

  • Put onion, carrot, celery, garlic, oregano and red pepper flakes into a food processor and pulse 10 times - you want the mixture to be a fine chop, not a puree. Transfer to a bowl.
  • Put mushrooms in food processor and pulse about 6-8 times. Add in meat and pulse until combined, about 8 more pulses.
  • Heat butter and oil in a dutch oven, heavy pot or pan (I like to use my Creuset).
  • Saute vegetable mixture for about 5 mins. Stir often and don't let brown.
  • Add paste and soy sauce and mix well for about 1 minute.
  • Add in mushroom and meat mixture and cook for about 10 minutes until liquid is evaporated and meat starts to sizzle.
  • Add the tomatoes and juices and simmer, uncovered for another 30 minutes.
  • Add in fish sauce and parmesan and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • While sauce is cooking, make pasta according to package directions.
  • Divide pasta among 4 plates, top with sauce and sprinkle with parmesan and fresh herbs.

Notes

  • You can use any type of pasta for this dish. Dried or fresh, tubes or long, brown rice, gluten free, quinoa. I've even had it with spiralized zucchini instead of spaghetti.
  • You can substitute some of the ground beef for hot italian sausage for an extra kick.  Use one sausage link and roughly 5 oz lean ground beef.