Name: The best spaghetti bolognese recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 25 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil -; 4 rashers smoked streaky bacon, finely chopped -; 2 medium onions, finely chopped -; 2 carrots, trimmed and finely chopped -; 2 celery sticks, finely chopped -; 2 garlic cloves finely chopped -; 2-3 sprigs rosemary leaves picked and finely chopped -; 500g beef mince -; 2 x 400g tins plum tomatoes -; small pack basil leaves picked, ¾ finely chopped and the rest left whole for garnish -; 1 tsp dried oregano -; 2 fresh bay leaves -; 2 tbsp tomato purée -; 1 beef stock cube -; 1 red chilli deseeded and finely chopped (optional) -; 125ml red wine -; 6 cherry tomatoes sliced in half -; 75g parmesan grated, plus extra to serve -; 400g spaghetti -; crusty bread to serve (optional) -

Ingredients for - The best spaghetti bolognese recipe

1. 1 tbsp olive oil

2. 4 rashers smoked streaky bacon, finely chopped

3. 2 medium onions, finely chopped

4. 2 carrots, trimmed and finely chopped

5. 2 celery sticks, finely chopped

6. 2 garlic cloves finely chopped

7. 2-3 sprigs rosemary leaves picked and finely chopped

8. 500g beef mince

9. 2 x 400g tins plum tomatoes

10. small pack basil leaves picked, ¾ finely chopped and the rest left whole for garnish

11. 1 tsp dried oregano

12. 2 fresh bay leaves

13. 2 tbsp tomato purée

14. 1 beef stock cube

15. 1 red chilli deseeded and finely chopped (optional)

16. 125ml red wine

17. 6 cherry tomatoes sliced in half

18. 75g parmesan grated, plus extra to serve

19. 400g spaghetti

20. crusty bread to serve (optional)

How to cook deliciously - The best spaghetti bolognese recipe

1 . Stage

Put a large saucepan on a medium heat and add 1 tbsp olive oil.

2 . Stage

Add 4 finely chopped bacon rashers and fry for 10 mins until golden and crisp.

3 . Stage

Reduce the heat and add the 2 onions, 2 carrots, 2 celery sticks, 2 garlic cloves and the leaves from 2-3 sprigs rosemary, all finely chopped, then fry for 10 mins. Stir the veg often until it softens.

4 . Stage

Increase the heat to medium-high, add 500g beef mince and cook stirring for 3-4 mins until the meat is browned all over.

5 . Stage

Add 2 tins plum tomatoes, the finely chopped leaves from ¾ small pack basil, 1 tsp dried oregano, 2 bay leaves, 2 tbsp tomato purée, 1 beef stock cube, 1 deseeded and finely chopped red chilli (if using), 125ml red wine and 6 halved cherry tomatoes. Stir with a wooden spoon, breaking up the plum tomatoes.

6 . Stage

Bring to the boil, reduce to a gentle simmer and cover with a lid. Cook for 1 hr 15 mins stirring occasionally, until you have a rich, thick sauce.

7 . Stage

Add the 75g grated parmesan, check the seasoning and stir.

8 . Stage

When the bolognese is nearly finished, cook 400g spaghetti following the pack instructions.

9 . Stage

Drain the spaghetti and either stir into the bolognese sauce, or serve the sauce on top. Serve with more grated parmesan, the remaining basil leaves and crusty bread, if you like.