Ramp up your usual spaghetti Bolognese with this recipe which throws in a few unorthodox methods and ingredients to deliver the ultimate pasta dish
Prep:20 mins
Serves 8
olive oil400g beef mince400g Italian pork sausages, skinned and crumbled200g smoked pancetta1 onion, finely chopped1 carrot, finely chopped2 celery sticks, finely chopped4 garlic cloves, chopped1 sprig thymesmall bunch fresh basil, small leaves picked and reserved2 bay leaves2 tsp dried oreganohandful dried porcini mushrooms1 tsp golden caster sugar1 tbsp tomato purée½ tsp Thai fish sauce1 tbsp red wine vinegar100ml whole milk4 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes200ml white wine100g parmesan, grated, rind removed and keptspaghetti, to serve
STEP 1Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan and crumble in the mince and sausagemeat. Spend a good 30 mins cooking the mince – it will release lots of liquid, which you want to evaporate, and then eventually it will end up sizzling in its own fat. If the pan becomes too dry, drizzle in a little more olive oil. Towards the end, continue stirring the mince until it becomes speckled with crisp brown bits.STEP 2Heat oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 2. While the mince is browning, heat a drizzle more oil in a casserole dish and sizzle the pancetta for 5 mins until it starts to brown and release its fat, then throw in the vegetables and herbs, and finely crumble over the dried porcini. Cook gently for 5 mins until soft and starting to brown. Sprinkle over the sugar, then stir in the tomato purée and splash in the fish sauce and vinegar. Simmer down until gloopy, then stir through the meat and pour in the milk and tomatoes. Rinse out the tomato tins with the wine and stir into the pan. Season, then nestle in the parmesan rind. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook in the oven for 3 hrs.STEP 3When cooked, tip as many portions of Bolognese as you need into a sauté pan. Cook the pasta until very al dente, then tong into the pan with a bit of the water and finish cooking with the sauce for 2 mins. Stir through the parmesan and a drizzle more olive oil. Twirl the pasta and Bolognese into bowls, scatter with basil and serve with more parmesan.
