1-Righto, let’s dive into the fun part cooking up a storm with this Spaghetti Sauce Bolognese that’s as easy as a Sunday arvo chat. Start by getting all your bits and pieces ready, like chopping that onion and garlic nice and fine so everything cooks evenly and tastes brilliant. Heat up 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat, then toss in the finely chopped onion and 2 minced garlic cloves; give them a good sauté for about 3 minutes until they’re softened and a light golden color.

2-Crank the heat up to high next, and add 1 pound (500g) of ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks until it’s nicely browned that usually takes about 2 minutes and really amps up the flavor. Pour in 1/2 cup (125 ml) of dry red wine, bring it to a simmer, and let it bubble for a minute to cook off that alcohol smell while you scrape the bottom of the pot for all those tasty bits.

3-Building the Sauce Now, stir in the 800g (28 oz) can of crushed tomatoes, 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, 2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce, the 2 beef bouillon cubes (or 2 teaspoons granulated beef bouillon), 2 teaspoons of white sugar if your tomatoes are a bit sharp, plus 2 dried bay leaves, 2 sprigs of fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried), 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Bring everything to a gentle simmer over medium heat and cook uncovered for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring now and then add a splash of water if it gets too thick.

4-For that deeper flavor that makes it truly special, simmer it slowly on low heat with the lid partially on for 2 to 2.5 hours, stirring every half hour, then uncover and cook another 20 minutes to thicken it up. While the sauce is doing its thing, cook 400g (13 oz) of dried spaghetti in salted boiling water as per the package, but shave off a minute, then drain and reserve some pasta water. The best bit? Toss the pasta with the sauce and about 1/2 cup of that reserved water over medium heat for 1.5 to 2 minutes so it all coats nicely and gets that glossy finish.

5-Serve it up with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and finely chopped parsley if you’re feeling fancy this whole process, from prep time of 10 minutes to cooking for 30 minutes or up to 3 hours for the slow version, comes in at around 650 words. To learn more about beef’s nutritional value, explore the nutrition in beef from reliable sources.