spaghetti bolognese

Another Italian grandmother recipe. So, that should speak for itself right?

There’s just something about a big pile of spaghetti and red sauce that cheers a person’s soul. It’s the perfect comfort food: good for cold, rainy nights or when you just aren't having that great of a day. It's really one of our family faves.

Serve this with a nice piece of crusty garlic bread and it’ll become one of your family favorites too!

Spaghetti Bolognese

Serves 4.

This is even good cold the next day. Or made into an Italian frittata!

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion

2 carrots

4 cloves garlic

½-1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 pounds ground beef

1 cup good quality red wine (recommended: a Chianti)

3 ½ cups marinara sauce (homemade or your favorite kind from the market)

1 pound spaghetti

Salt and pepper to taste.

Prep and dice all the veggies.

Melt butter in a large Dutch oven or Le Creuset. Add diced onions and carrots and sauté until soft and tender, about 5 minutes. Add diced garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté for about 30 seconds, or until the fragrance hits your nose. Add ground beef and brown.

After everything is cooked through, add red wine to deglaze and reduce by half. Add marinara sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer.

Meanwhile, boil spaghetti in salted water. Once it’s almost al dente, drain and add to sauce. Continue cooking until pasta is tender. Serve!