Bolognese Sauce Recipe

Name: Bolognese Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 bottle red wine (Chianti is best but any cheap red wine is OK.); 1 1/2 kg topside beef mince; 3 stalks celery, diced (no leaves); 4 medium carrots, diced; 1 tablespoon dried oregano or 2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped; 1/2 tablespoon dried thyme or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped; 1 tablespoon dried parsley or 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped; 1 tablespoon dried basil or 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped; 1 teaspoon marjoram or 2 teaspoons fresh marjoram, chopped; 2 dried bay leaves; 1/4 cup dry-roasted pine nuts; 5 cloves garlic, minced; 1 large onion, diced; 250 g button mushrooms (brown button mushrooms are better); 1 fresh tomatoes, skinned and coarsely chopped or (400 g) can of skinless tomatoes; 1 (150 g) can tomato paste; 1/2 bottle ketchup (Heinz is best); 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 egg; salt and pepper

Servings: persons

1 bottle red wine (Chianti is best but any cheap red wine is OK.)
1 1/2 kg topside beef mince
3 stalks celery, diced (no leaves)
4 medium carrots, diced
1 tablespoon dried oregano or 2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped
1/2 tablespoon dried thyme or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
1 tablespoon dried parsley or 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon dried basil or 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
1 teaspoon marjoram or 2 teaspoons fresh marjoram, chopped
2 dried bay leaves
1/4 cup dry-roasted pine nuts
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, diced
250 g button mushrooms (brown button mushrooms are better)
1 fresh tomatoes, skinned and coarsely chopped or (400 g) can of skinless tomatoes
1 (150 g) can tomato paste
1/2 bottle ketchup (Heinz is best)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 egg
salt and pepper

1
Using your hands, mix egg and minced beef.
2
Heat pan and fry garlic and onion until soft and fragrant, add beef.
3
Stir constantly until beef changes colour.
4
Add oregano, thyme, parsley, basil, marjoram, bayleaves.
5
Stir through.
6
Add tomato paste and fresh tomatoes, with 1/3 of the wine.
7
Mix thoroughly.
8
Season with salt and pepper.
9
DO NOT ADD WATER AT ALL.
10
Let boil over very low heat until mixture thickens, stirring ocassionally.
11
Add carrots and celery, and half of the remaining wine.
12
Let boil (very low heat) until liquid is absorbed.
13
Stir occasionally.
14
Add the rest of the wine, tomato sauce, pinenuts and mushrooms.
15
Stir until sauce thickens.
16
Serving method: Boil water until it bubbles, add pasta, 1 tbsp of salt and 2 tbsp of olive oil.
17
Cook for exactly 8 minutes for al-dente texture.
18
Drain pasta.
19
Make sure it's really drained of water.
20
In a pan, heat up pasta sauce (1 serving) and toss pasta in.
21
Stir quickly (1 minute) and pour onto plate.
22
Sprinkle with grated mozzarella and parmesan, and a bit of parsley.
23
NOTE: Sauce can be stored in small containers in the freezer to be used when needed.
24
Make sure container is microwaveable, clean and dry.
25
The sauce keeps for 12 months in the freezer.

1250

kcal

Calories

Fat

Carbs

108

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

Tips for the best results

Read through all the steps once before you start and measure out your ingredients first — it makes everything go more smoothly.
Taste as you go and adjust the seasoning before serving.
Avoid overcrowding the pan — cook in batches if needed for the best texture.
Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving so the flavors settle.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a few days.

Variations & substitutions

Leave out the nuts to make it nut-free, or swap in seeds for a similar crunch.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

My Personal Notes

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How did you like this recipe?

This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 20 ingredients. The key ingredients include: 1 bottle red wine (Chianti is best but any cheap red wine is OK.), 1 1/2 kg topside beef mince, 3 stalks celery, diced (no leaves), 4 medium carrots, diced, and more.

Yes, Bolognese Sauce falls under the General category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently before serving.

That's it — enjoy your meal!

Bolognese Sauce

Tips for the best results

Variations & substitutions

My Personal Notes

How did you like this recipe?

Frequently Asked Questions