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- I made Ina Garten’s easy weeknight Bolognese pasta. The delicious dish was ready in 30 minutes. (businessinsider.com)
Ina Garten’s Weeknight Bolognese: A Quick, Flavorful Dinner Solution
Ina Garten, known as the “Barefoot Contessa,” offers a Bolognese recipe that’s perfect for busy weeknights, combining rich flavors with a quick 30-minute prep time. Featuring orecchiette pasta, ground sirloin, fresh basil, and dry red wine, this dish is both comforting and adaptable to what you have on hand.
Ingredients for 4-5 servings include:
- 1 pound dried pasta (orecchiette or small shells)
- 1 pound lean ground sirloin
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed San Marzano tomatoes
- 1¼ cups dry red wine, divided
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Garten emphasizes using San Marzano tomatoes for their superior taste but allows substitutions, noting the recipe’s flexibility. Ground sirloin can be swapped for other meats or mushrooms, and the cream and basil can be omitted if unavailable.
The preparation begins with sautéing the ground sirloin in olive oil until browned. Garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes are added before deglazing the pan with a cup of dry red wine. Crushed tomatoes and tomato paste follow, seasoned with salt and pepper, then simmered for 10 minutes.
While the sauce simmers, the pasta is cooked al dente in salted water. Fresh basil, nutmeg, and heavy cream are stirred into the sauce toward the end, enhancing its depth and creaminess. After draining the pasta (reserving some pasta water), the noodles are combined with the sauce, along with an additional splash of red wine and reserved pasta water to achieve the perfect consistency.
Finished with a generous sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan, the dish delivers a well-balanced blend of hearty meatiness, subtle spice, and fresh herbaceous notes. Family members who sampled the meal praised its richness and the way the pasta cradled the sauce.
Ina Garten’s weeknight Bolognese stands out as a convenient yet elegant option for those seeking a satisfying homemade meal on a tight schedule. It’s a welcome addition to any weeknight dinner rotation.