SPICY SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE BY MANI

If you love spice and meaty bolognese, you will love this spicy spaghetti bolognese recipe which is actually more straightforward to cook over the traditional version because there are less ingredients and only requires simple spice.

My favourite recipe growing up has always been this homemade spicy spaghetti bolognese which tastes best with lamb mince and is a very customised vacation compared to a traditional bolognese recipe.

I want to share this recipe because it requires less ingredients but there is so much flavour which you can also prep for the week as it keeps and freezes amazingly well.

HOW TO MAKE A SPICY SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE?

1) MAIN INGREDIENTS

Lamb or Beef Mince: I personally use lamb, or try my best to purchase lean lamb, because I find it the ideal balance. It also works so well with the spices and tomato sauce. You can use beef mince too, or choose 50% fatty meat and 50% lean meat.

Chopped Tomatoes: I use two cans of chopped tomatoes but any variation is fine. I also add tomato puree paste.

Spices: Two teaspoons of red chilli powder are enough for this bolognese and I believe you do not need to over complicate it by adding different types of spices.

Spaghetti: I just go for ordinary spaghetti but you can use any type of pasta or if you want to keep it low-carb you can use zucchini spaghetti.

2) METHOD

To make the Bolognese:

1. In your large saucepan, add a dash of olive oil and onions. After 3 minutes, add the garlic and continue to saute until soft for another 5 minutes.
2. Add the meat mince and fry until the meat is browned.
3. Add the chilli powder, tomato puree, salt and black pepper. Followed by both cans of chopped tomatoes.
4. Cover and allow to slow cook on low-medium heat for 30 minutes, whilst siring occasionally.

Prep the spaghetti: Whilst the bolognese is slow cooking, this is the ideal time to prepare the spaghetti. I personally reheat the spaghetti but you can skip this step if you want to cook it fresh on a weeknight because the bolognese is great to prep.

3) TIPS

Which meat is best for this bolognese? Traditionally, choose 50% fatty meat and 50% lean meat. This is a way to combine flavour with a lean meat to get the best of both worlds, which is also the same procedure to make traditional meatballs. However, for my meal prep, I prefer to use lamb with 10% fat, which is still a good balance between flavour and leanness.

How to spice up bolognese sauce? If you have heard the saying “less is more”, it definitely applies to this recipe and it is better when you keep it simplified. I have experimented with adding various spices which can be too overwhelming for this recipe. All you need is two teaspoons of red chilli powder per 500g of meat. It might not sound a lot but it is enough to turn this bolognese into a beast!

Bolognese is perfect for meal prep: You do not need to prep the spaghetti, in case you plan to cook it fresh, but the bolognese is one of the best meal prep recipes because it tastes better the next day! The spices have settled and it feels more rich in flavour.

Try the vegan version: Whether you eat meat or live on a plant-based diet, you need to give this red lentil bolognese a try because it tastes just as good but it is lighter to digest.

DESCRIPTION 

If you love spice and meaty bolognese, you will love this spicy spaghetti bolognese recipe which is actually more straightforward to cook over the traditional version because there are less ingredients and only requires simple spice. My favourite recipe growing up has always been this homemade spicy spaghetti bolognese which tastes best with lamb mince and is a very customised vacation compared to a traditional bolognese recipe. I want to share this recipe because it requires less ingredients but there is so much flavour which you can also prep for the week as it keeps and freezes amazingly well.

INGREDIENTS 

• 500g Lamb or Beef Mince (10% fat)
• 1 Large Onion (finely chopped)
• 2 Garlic Cloves (finely chopped)
• 2x 400g can Chopped Tomatoes
• 1/2 tsp Tomato Puree Paste
• 2 tsp Red Chilli Powder
• Chopped Coriander (to garnish)
• 200g Spaghetti
• 2 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Salt and Black Pepper to taste

METHOD 

To make the bolognese

1. On a medium-high heated pan, add a dash of olive oil and onions. After 3 minutes, add the garlic and continue to saute until soft for another 5 minutes.
2. Add the lamb or beef mince and fry for until the meat is brown.
3. Add the chilli powder, tomato puree, salt and black pepper. Followed by both cans of chopped tomatoes.
4. Cover and allow to simmer for 30 minutes, whilst siring occasionally.

To make the spaghetti

1. While your bolognese is simmering, this is an ideal time to prepare the spaghetti. Simply add a dash of olive oil and salt to your saucepan of boiled water, followed by the spaghetti.
2. Allow to simmer until cooked, which should be around the same time the bolognese is fully cooked.

Combine

1. Add your spaghetti and bolognese to your meal prep containers. This recipe is ideal for 4 portions.

NOTES 

• For meal prep purposes, refrigerate up to four days.
• For ultimately macro-friendly purposes, use lean meat and zucchini spaghetti.
• For ultimately flavour, use 50% fatty meat and 50% lean meat.
• Freeze up to 4 months if you want to batch cook.
• Nutritional information reflects bolognese and spaghetti.

NUTRITION 

• Serving Size: 1 Spaghetti Bolognese
• Calories: 541
• Sugar: 9.7g
• Sodium: 582.9mg
• Fat: 24.6g
• Saturated Fat: 10.4g
• Carbohydrates: 48.2g
• Fiber: 2.5g
• Protein: 31.5g

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

Recipe kindly provided by the AWESOME Mani at Spicy Meal Prep.

Tag @spicymealprep on Instagram and hashtag it #SpicyMealPrep