Bolognese with Spaghetti

This is a real comforting autumn and winter dinner to make for the whole family.  It's a very simple bolognese recipe and the cream and parsley go so well.  Have the sauce with either spaghetti or a linguine pasta.

1. Ingredients:

• 500g organic beef mince / ground beef

• 200g unsmoked pancetta or bacon

• 1 small brown onion finely chopped / 1cup

• ½ cup red wine

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 2 bay leaves

• 1 large can tomatoes (approx 750g)

• 350 ml water (½ the can)

• pinch of salt / pepper

• 1/2 cup fresh single cream

• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped

• 3/4 cup grated parmesan

• Pasta - 100g per person - either spaghetti or linguine would go very well

Method:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large heavy based pan, add the onions and pancetta and cook gently for 5 minutes

2. Add the beef and brown all over

3. Add the red wine and cook for a couple of minutes, then add the plum tomatoes, bay leaves and water

4. Leave to simmer with a lid on for 1 hour, check it every now and then, give it a stir

5. Once the sauce has cooked and reduced and is lovely and thick, add the chopped parsley, cream, ¾ of the grated parmesan and stir together

6. Season with salt and pepper.  

7. Cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling water until just al dente.  Check the cooking instructions on the packet for timings depending if you are using fresh or dried pasta.

8. I like to toss the cooked pasta in the sauce and then serve it up with an extra sprinkle of grated cheese on top!