Recipe

Spaghetti Bolognese

Rich meat sauce simmered with tomatoes, served over spaghetti. The world’s favorite pasta dinner.

Spaghetti Bolognese takes about 50 minutes and makes 4 servings. Each serving has 853 kcal.

Preparation
10 minutes
Cooking
40 minutes
Total time
50 minutes
Servings
4
Spaghetti Bolognese - finished dish

Nutrition per serving

Calories
853 kcal
Protein
40.8 g
Carbohydrates
88.1 g
Fat
36.1 g

Ingredients

  • Spaghetti400 g
  • Ground beef500 g
  • Red onion1 pc
  • Garlic2 cloves
  • Carrot1 pc
  • Canned peeled tomatoes400 g
  • Tomato paste2 tbsp
  • Olive oil2 tbsp
  • Oregano1 tsp
  • Parmesan40 g
  • Salt1 pinch
  • Pepper1 pinch

Instructions

  1. 1

    Finely chop the onion and garlic. Grate the carrot on the coarse side of a grater.

    Tip: Grated carrot melts into the sauce and adds gentle sweetness - nobody will know it is there.

  2. 2

    Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté onion and carrot for 5 minutes until softened.

  3. 3

    Add garlic and sauté 1 minute until fragrant.

  4. 4

    Turn heat up to medium-high. Add ground beef, breaking it apart with the spoon. Cook about 7 minutes until browned with no pink left.

    Tip: Let the meat sit between stirs - browning builds flavor, constant stirring just steams it gray.

  5. 5

    Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute. Add canned tomatoes (crush them with the spoon), oregano and 100 ml water. Reduce heat to low and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Tip: 20 minutes works on a busy night - but this sauce only gets better the longer it simmers.

  6. 6

    Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti according to package directions until al dente.

  7. 7

    Season the sauce with salt and pepper. Serve over the drained spaghetti with grated Parmesan on top.

Cooking methods

On the stove

Large heavy pot. Medium for the vegetables, medium-high to brown the meat, lowest flame for the simmer. A second pot boils the pasta alongside.

On induction

Level 5 for vegetables, 7-8 for browning the meat, 2-3 for the simmer. Boil pasta water on a second zone at level 8-9.

Over an open fire

Build the sauce in a heavy pot over direct heat, then move it to the fire’s edge for the simmer. Boil the pasta over the strongest flames.

Recipe questions

How long does this recipe take?
Plan for about 50 minutes from start to finish.
How many servings does this recipe make?
This recipe makes 4 servings.
Can I cook this recipe on induction?
Yes. Level 5 for vegetables, 7-8 for browning the meat, 2-3 for the simmer. Boil pasta water on a second zone at level 8-9.
Can I cook this recipe over an open fire?
Yes. Build the sauce in a heavy pot over direct heat, then move it to the fire’s edge for the simmer. Boil the pasta over the strongest flames.

In the app

Cooking the way it should feel

One step on screen, a timer that keeps going, and clear progress until the dish is done.

Step-by-step cooking screen in the First Bite app

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