Explorers Kitchen – Hearty Beef and Vegetable Bolognese

Quick, healthy, tasty. Looking for an easy family dinner? Check out our classic beef bolognese and veggie pasta recipe below 🍝 👇

Is it your turn to cook family dinner? When in doubt, reach for a trusty classic – bolognese! Elevate your dinner with our hearty beef and vegetable pasta, a dish which binds savoury beef, colourful veggies, and aromatic herbs.

And this family-friendly recipe isn’t just tasty, but it also packs plenty of protein for growing bodies and minds.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 1.5kg beef mince
• 1L vegetable stock
• 400g-500g dry pasta of your choice
• 4 cans diced tomatoes
• 3 red capsicums, diced
• 2 brown onions, diced
• 1 large carrot, diced
• 1 celery, diced
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons dried Basil
• 2 tablespoons dried oregano
• 2 tablespoons minced Garlic
• 1 tablespoon dried Indigenous bush tomato
• Parmesan cheese (for serving)
• Vegetable oil

Method

1. Boil the Pasta: Begin by bringing a large pot of water to a boil and cooking the pasta until Al Dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Sauté Garlic: In another pot over medium heat, add vegetable oil and minced garlic. Sauté until the garlic turns a golden brown.
3. Cook the Mince: Add the beef mince to the pot, cooking until brown. Then, introduce the diced brown onions, carrot, celery, and red capsicums. Continue cooking until the vegetables tender and brown.
4. Add the Herbs: Sprinkle in the dried basil, dried oregano, and the a touch of dried Indigenous bush tomato. This herbaceous trio enhances the flavours, creating a robust and aromatic sauce.
5. Make the Sauce: Pour in the vegetable stock, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste. Bring the mixture to a boil and then let it simmer for 30 minutes or until the liquid has reduced.
6. Serve: Dish out the hearty beef and vegetable pasta onto plates, serving it alongside the cooked pasta. For an authentic touch, offer parmesan cheese on the side.

Fun Fact

Did you know that despite spaghetti and bolognese being a popular combination around the world, the traditional bolognese dish is served with tagliatelle, a flatter egg-based pasta similar to fettuccine?

Spaghetti’s integration into the dish can be traced back to American soldiers in World War II who, after tasting pasta in Bologna, incorporated it into their recipes upon returning home.

Furthermore, authentic bolognese always includes two types of meat: beef and pork. The earliest bolognese recipes describe a ragu served with pasta, highlighting the historical significance of this flavourful meat sauce.

Our beef and vegetable pasta is more than just a meal – it’s a celebration of flavours and culture. Perfect for family dinners or a cozy night in, this dish promises to satisfy both the young and the young-at-heart.

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