Spaghetti Bolognese with a Twist

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Knorr

4 serving

5.0 1 ratings Review this recipe

Prep time: 20 mins

Cook time: 1 hr 30 mins

Serves: 4

This recipe for bolognese is rich in flavour and uses beef mince only. But it also comes with a subtle yet tasty twist: the inclusion of chilli and chocolate. Guaranteed to get the family asking what you’ve done differently!

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Ingredients Method

Ingredients

1 carrot
1 medium onion
1 stick of celery
2 cloves of garlic
2 tbsps olive oil, 1 tbsp for the mince, 1 tbsp for the pasta
500g lean minced beef
175ml red wine (optional)
1 knorr beef stock pot, made into 175ml of stock
1 tsp tomato puree
400g chopped tin tomatoes
200ml tomato passata
1 bay leaf
1 small sprig of thyme
50g cherry tomatoes
10g dark chocolate
½ small red chilli
1 handful parmesan cheese, freshly grated for serving
300g spaghetti

Method

Step 1

Chop the carrots, onion and celery as finely as possible. By chopping finely it allows all the flavours to be released into the bolognese.

Step 2

Take the garlic cloves (you can use as much or as little as you like), crush them with the back of your knife and then slice them finely. Once sliced, add a little salt to the slices. Using the back of your knife again, mash it into a paste. The salt helps to get the paste really smooth and fine, but you can just use a garlic crusher or a food processor.

Step 3

Add a generous amount of olive oil to a large saucepan or stove-top casserole.

Step 4

Over a low heat add the carrots, celery, garlic and onion. Cooking down slowly, without colour, allows the natural sweetness in the carrot to come out.

Step 5

Add the beef and cook with the vegetables to render the fat out of it. If there is excess fat, you can simply pour it off and then proceed to make your bolognese.

Step 6

Seal off the mince – by doing this you evaporate off all the water, which intensifies the flavour of the beef. Work the beef by stirring it thoroughly, lifting the meat to break down all the lumps for a smooth sauce.

Step 7

Add the red wine (this is optional) and evaporate off. Add the stock made from the Beef Knorr Stock Pot and evaporate off. Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato puree and passata and evaporate off.

Step 8

Bring back to the boil and add a couple of bay leaves and a few sprigs of thyme. Let the sauce cook for 60–90 minutes, slowly, with the lid on

Step 9

Meanwhile, bring a large pan of water to the boil for the pasta, seasoning the water with a splash of olive oil. Cook according to pack instructions. Drain.

Step 10

Once the bolognese is cooked, discard the thyme and bay leaves. These have released all their flavour and are no longer needed.

Step 11

Fry the cherry tomatoes in a little olive oil and add to sauce.

Step 12

Your bolognese is now ready to finish by grating the chocolate in and adding the chopped chilli. Serve with the spaghetti, top with the fresh basil and finish with Parmesan cheese.