There is nothing quite like the smell of a good tomato sauce bubbling away on the stovetop – I have learnt to have my wooden spoon on standby to knock away the hubby’s hand as he sneakily approaches the pot with a crusty piece of bread, ready to soak up all the saucy goodness simmering gently away until our meal is ready to devour….
I have been looking through some Bolognese recipes lately but truthfully I always go back to the way my mum and her mum have made their sauce for years – simple and sensational. A few ingredients and some good quality pasta and you can create an awesome meal – actually you can create a few because I always make more than enough sauce to have some leftovers for freezing or for lunch the next day.
You will need:
1 brown onion, chopped
2 tablespoons of olive oil
500g beef mince
salt and pepper
1 tin of peeled chopped tomatoes
1 bottle of passata
A good handful chopped flat-leaf parsley
It is as simple as this:
Heat the oil in a large pot on medium heat, add the onion and cook, stirring for a few minutes until the onion softens. Add the mince, use a wooden spoon to break up any lumps and clumps – cook until the mince changes colour.
Add the passata and tinned tomatoes – bring to the boil and then allow to simmer gently for at least 30 minutes on very low heat. I have found the longer it stays on the stove, the better it will taste! Once the sauce has thickened to your preferred consistency, stir in the parsley and season with salt and pepper. If you like a meatier and less saucy version, add less passata.
Serve with your favourite pasta!
We prefer…
Mutti Passata, Distributed by Sandhurst Fine Foods
Annalisa Italian Diced Tomatoes, Distributed by Leo’s Imports
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