Hayden Quinn COOK · TV PRESENTER · FOOD ADVENTURER

BEEF · PASTA

14 June 2024

Beefed Up Bolognese

Created with Healthy Male

Bolognese with a few sneaky extras thrown in! This is a great way to not only bulk out your bolognese with heaps of veg but it also adds a great flavour base. This dish is all about layering the flavours and extracting all the goodness from each ingredient. Feel free to double (or even triple) this recipe so you can have these prepped and frozen for when you need a quick and healthy meal option.

Serves
4
Prep
15 mins
Cook
25 mins
Difficulty
Easy
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Beefed Up Bolognese, recipe by Hayden Quinn

Ingredients

  • 2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 x onion, finely diced
  • 4 x cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 x large carrot, peeled and diced
  • 1 x bulb fennel, diced
  • 1 x zucchini, diced
  • 150g cup mushrooms, diced
  • 250g bolognese mince (mix of pork and beef)
  • 2 x 400g can lentils, rinsed and drained
  • 1 tsp fennel seeds
  • 1 tsp chilli flakes
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 x 400g can crushed tomatoes
  • Sea salt & crushed black pepper, to taste
  • 400g you pasta of choice, cooked as per packet instructions
  • Extra virgin olive oil, to serve
  • Parmesan cheese, to serve
  • Basil, leaves only, to serve

Method

  1. Heat a large heavy based saucepan or cast iron pot to medium–high heat and, in batches, cook the onion, garlic, carrot, fennel, zucchini and mushrooms until softened and slightly caramelised / coloured.
  2. Once all veggies are cooked off, set aside. Brown off mince, then add lentils along with spices.
  3. Stir well to combine and cook until fragrant. Add back all the precooked veg.
  4. Add crushed tomatoes, using the tomato can add in a can full or water and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook, gently simmering for 15–20 minutes.
  5. Serve on top of your pasta of choice, with a drizzle of olive oil and garnish with basil and parmesan.

Notes

For all the veg, if you want to cheat, feel free to use a food processor using the grate or chop attachment.

For the mince, you can use only pork or only beef depending on your preference and availability.

Choose your favourite pasta shape, spaghetti is the classic but sometimes I love a short pasta to have with my bolognese.

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