Simple Bolognese Sauce

  • active time • 15 min
  • cook time • 30 min
  • method • stew
  • freezer friendly? Yes
Simple Bolognese Sauce on pasta

Budget Details

  • • serves 4 - 6
  • • one recipe = $6.77
  • • one serving = $1.13
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Not quite your usual sauce, this simple bolognese sauce is lighter on the palate as it skips the heavy herbs. It still packs a deep comforting flavour – just from carrots, onions and celery.

The story behind this sauce is that we created it when my daughter started solids. She didn’t fancy the strong flavour of herbs such as bay leaf and oregano. To be honest, neither did I. We made one without those and she breezed through her lunch that day. We have never looked back!

This recipe is freezer friendly so it is one you should definitely have on hand It is so versatile that can be used in a ton of recipes – homemade pizza, tortizzas, baked cheese fries, lasagne.

I use these silicone freezer trays from Souper Cubes. I love them because I can use the portion sizes I need (no more waste). The frozen bolognese sauce can be easily removed from the tray and stored in freezer bags for easy access.

How to make bolognese sauce for babies and toddlers

  • Use a minced meat of your choice. Chicken is softer and easier to digest.
  • Blend the sauce with before serving over softer pasta shapes such as shells, macaroni or alphabets.

Make bolognese sauce for hungry adults and teenagers

After an active day out, the sauce alone may not pack enough protein. Pair with a side of grilled chicken or egg mayo salad.

Make extras because they are bound to ask for more!

Serve with a generous sprinkle of cheese (I get grand padano from Redman in stores). A block of cheese is usually cheaper per g than the pre-shredded version. Pre-shredded cheese also often contains anti-caking agents – I find that affects texture and taste.

It’s easy to shred cheese with a good grater – I recommend investing in a microplane cheese grater. Trust me you will use it for life because they are made so well and make grating cheese a breeze because it is ultra sharp.

Busy day tips

  • Make it ahead!
  • If there is only one thing you freeze, make it this one!

Budget tips for bolognese sauce

  • Get cheap frozen beef!
  • Cook two batches and freeze for later.
  • Portion into servings for quick pasta or wraps – no more takeout!
Simple Bolognese Sauce on pasta
Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 cloves garlic ($0.13)
  • 1 medium carrot ($0.42)
  • 1 medium onion ($0.46)
  • 3 tbsp rice bran oil ($0.51)
  • 250 g minced beef ($3.00)
  • 1 can tomato puree ($2.25)
  • 1 cup water or stock

Instructions

Preparation

  • Chop celery, garlic, onion and carrot into fine pieces.
  • Defrost minced beef.

Cooking

  • Add oil to a heated wok.
  • Add the garlic, onion, celery and carrot and saute lightly for 5 min. Stir regularly and lower heat to avoid burning or browning.
  • Add minced meat and stir to break up and loosen mince. Saute for 5 min.
  • Add canned tomatoes and 1 cup of water or stock and stir thoroughly. Simmer on low for 20 – 25 min.
  • Stir sauce regularly.
  • Taste and season with salt to taste.