I SEEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENT VERSION OF A BOLOGNESE EVERY TIME I MAKE ONE, DEPENDING ON WHICH INGREDIENTS I HAVE AT HOME (AND WHICH I’M TRYING TO USE UP)!
Here’s a pretty straightforward one. I mostly eat my bolognese straight, like a bowl of chilli (without pasta). It’s a hearty dish either way!
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 large yellow onion, diced (I sometimes use more onions; they give the sauce texture.)
- 2 cloves garlic peeled, minced
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried red pepper flakes (completely optional; avoid it if you want to do a non-spicy version)
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (taste as you go; add more if you like)
- 1 tsp of capers (lightly broken up with the back of a spoon, to release the flavor)
- 1 lb. ground beef (or you can use ground turkey)
- olive oil for frying
- 2 tsp salt (more to taste, if needed)
METHOD:
- In a large pot, add about a tablespoon of olive oil over a medium heat. Add the onion and saute until translucent.
- Add the oregano, basil, red pepper flakes to warm them up. Add the garlic and cook for about a minute or so. Don’t let the garlic burn.
- Add the ground beef. Break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook for about 10 minutes until the meat is brown. There will be some water released from the meat, so keep cooking until most of the water has evaporated. Add the Worcestershire sauce and capers. Stir well.
- Add the tomatoes, plus two cans of water. Add the salt. Stir well. Increase the heat to high. Bring the sauce to a boil and then immediately reduce to a low heat. Simmer until the liquid reduces and you have a lovely, thick sauce! It should take about 30-40 minutes. I like my sauce a little chunky, but you can break up the tomatoes with the spoon, you want a smoother sauce. **Ps. If you want to concentrate the flavor, keep adding dashes of water to the sauce and cook for an hour or more.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve over your favorite pasta with shavings of your fave cheese (or in a bowl on its own, like chilli)!
SAVORY SOUNDS
And don’t forget, I have plenty of foot-stomping beats to cook along with. Check out my song lists at Savory Sounds!
