Cheap and delicious! Jamie Oliver reveals his budget-friendly spaghetti bolognese
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There's no doubt that Bolognese is one of the most popular pasta dishes out there! However, with the rising cost of groceries, they're not exactly the cheapest meal to make.
Fortunately, there are ways you can make your favourite dish for less – and Celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver is here to show us how!
The cost of pasta, mince, and sauce can really add up, especially if you're feeding a family. And with the cost of living on the rise, the last thing on our minds is spending more at the checkout.
Good thing Celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver is here to show us how to cook Spaghetti Bolognese without breaking the bank!
The restaurateur and cookbook author said that batch-cooking and using up leftovers are good ways to make a meal go twice as far.
He also added that tossing in a ‘second ingredient’ to the mix makes it healthier to eat! What’s the secret ingredient, you ask?
It’s lentils.
The celebrity chef said he uses half lentils and half minced beef or pork when making the sauce. Lentils are a great source of fibre so adding them to any dish gives you an extra nutritional boost. The best part? You can buy lentils for under $2.
‘It’s not only kinder to the planet, but your wallet too,’ Chef Jamie said.
Chef Jamie’s ‘50/50 Bolognese’ recipe is good enough to feed a ten-person household. It’s also going to save you cooking time for the rest of the week if you store the leftovers in the fridge.
But if this is too much food to make (and we’re with you on this one) you can halve the ingredients to make Bolognese that’s good to serve five people.
You’ll need the following ingredients:
To start cooking, Chef Jamie suggests following the methods below:
The British chef also said that there are many ways to use up leftover meat. Aside from mixing it in pasta to make Spaghetti Bolognese, he also uses it to make a ‘cheat’s cottage pie’. Yum!
This is a great tip for anyone looking to save money on their grocery bill! Do you have your own recipes you want to share? Let us know in the comments! If you’re not craving pasta dishes this week, you can check out our recipe forum for other dinner ideas!
Fortunately, there are ways you can make your favourite dish for less – and Celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver is here to show us how!
The cost of pasta, mince, and sauce can really add up, especially if you're feeding a family. And with the cost of living on the rise, the last thing on our minds is spending more at the checkout.
Good thing Celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver is here to show us how to cook Spaghetti Bolognese without breaking the bank!
Chef Jamie Oliver shows us how to cook delicious Spaghetti Bolognese with affordable ingredients. Credit: Klaus Nielsen in Pexels
The restaurateur and cookbook author said that batch-cooking and using up leftovers are good ways to make a meal go twice as far.
He also added that tossing in a ‘second ingredient’ to the mix makes it healthier to eat! What’s the secret ingredient, you ask?
It’s lentils.
The celebrity chef said he uses half lentils and half minced beef or pork when making the sauce. Lentils are a great source of fibre so adding them to any dish gives you an extra nutritional boost. The best part? You can buy lentils for under $2.
‘It’s not only kinder to the planet, but your wallet too,’ Chef Jamie said.
Chef Jamie’s ‘50/50 Bolognese’ recipe is good enough to feed a ten-person household. It’s also going to save you cooking time for the rest of the week if you store the leftovers in the fridge.
But if this is too much food to make (and we’re with you on this one) you can halve the ingredients to make Bolognese that’s good to serve five people.
You’ll need the following ingredients:
- 2 tsp. dried rosemary or ½ bunch of rosemary (about 15g)
- 6 pieces of smoked bacon or smoked pancetta
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil (or you can measure it to taste)
- 750g minced beef or pork
- 8 cloves of garlic
- 500g fresh or frozen chopped mixed onion, carrots, and celery
- 5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 3 tins of lentils (400g each)
- 400g of chopped or plum tomatoes
To start cooking, Chef Jamie suggests following the methods below:
1. Put a large, deep casserole pan on medium-high heat. While you’re waiting, pick and finely chop the rosemary leaves, slice the bacon (or pancetta) and place them all in the pan with olive oil. Remember to stir regularly, or until lightly golden.
2. As you stir the mince, break the lumps with a spoon and let it cook for 15 minutes or until they brown. Add the finely-chopped garlic, along with the mixed veggies and season with salt and black pepper. Keep stirring regularly.
3. Pour in the balsamic vinegar, then add lentils (including the lentil water).
4. Add the tomatoes, half-fill their tins with water and swirl it around. Pour the water into the pan.
5. Wait for the sauce to boil, then let it simmer on medium-low heat for two hours, or until it thickens. Stir occasionally to make sure it doesn’t burn!
6. Season it to your liking, and serve. Or you can batch up the extra portions and stash them in the freezer for future meals.
Chef Jamie has other budget meal tips available on his website. Credit: Gary Barnes in Pexels
The British chef also said that there are many ways to use up leftover meat. Aside from mixing it in pasta to make Spaghetti Bolognese, he also uses it to make a ‘cheat’s cottage pie’. Yum!
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