The Kenepp Network

Bolognese Sauce from Fresh Tomatoes

http://flavorful.life/bolognese-sauce-from-fresh-tomatoes/

Ingredients:

  • 6 beefsteak tomatoes
  • 6 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil (divided into 2 tablespoons for roasting and 2 tablespoons for cooking meat)
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil (for roasting)
  • 1 pound ground beef (90/10)
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 heaping teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
  • 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 pound spaghetti

Instructions:

  1. Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a baking sheet by lightly spraying it with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Prepare Tomatoes: Wash the tomatoes and slice them into thick slices. Place them on the prepared baking sheet along with the peeled cloves of garlic. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and dried basil.
  3. Roast: Bake the tomatoes and garlic for 30-35 minutes or until they appear shriveled.
  4. Cook Meat: While the tomatoes are roasting, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot and brown the ground beef and onions together. Add in the bay leaves, Italian seasoning, and additional salt and pepper to taste. Reduce heat to low and wait for the tomatoes to finish roasting.
  5. Blend Tomatoes: Once roasted, remove the tomatoes and garlic from the oven and transfer them to a food processor or blender. Pulse until mostly smooth (a few chunks are fine).
  6. Combine: Pour the blended tomato mixture into the pot with the browned meat. Add the canned tomato sauce and sugar. Stir everything together and bring the mixture to a boil.
  7. Simmer: Once boiling, reduce to a low simmer and let cook for 4 hours, stirring occasionally. This allows the sauce to thicken and the flavors to develop fully.
  8. Adjust Seasonings: After simmering, taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings as needed, typically adding more salt.
  9. Serve: Cook spaghetti al dente according to package instructions. Serve the Bolognese sauce over the cooked spaghetti.

Nutritional Information (per serving):

  • Calories: 790 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 95g
  • Protein: 32g
  • Fat: 31g
  • Saturated Fat: 8g
  • Cholesterol: 64mg
  • Sodium: 564mg
  • Potassium: 1761mg
  • Fiber: 9g
  • Sugar: 21g
  • Vitamin A: 3790IU
  • Vitamin C: 65mg
  • Calcium: 112mg
  • Iron: 5.5mg