Notes
BlixSam Proper SA Bolognese
Instead of making another standard Italian-style Bolognese, make this one unmistakably BlixSam and South African: deeply browned beef mince, lots of caramelised onion, grated carrot that melts into the sauce, Yanky BBQ Sauce, and a small spoon of Mrs Ball’s-style fruit chutney for that familiar sweet-savoury SA character. The trick is to let the sauce cook down until it almost clings to the spaghetti. Serves: 4–6Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 45–50 minutes
Ingredients
- 500 g beef mince
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 1 medium carrot, finely grated
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 tsp BlixSam Pasta a la Sam
- 1½ tsp BlixSam Arm Maat
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 × 400 g tin chopped tomatoes
- ½ cup BlixSam Yanky BBQ Sauce
- 1 tbsp fruit chutney
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup beef stock
- 1 tsp brown vinegar
- Black pepper
- 500 g spaghetti
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- 1 tbsp butter
- Grated mature cheddar
- Fresh parsley
Method
- Heat a large heavy pan until properly hot. Add the oil and beef mince. Don't immediately stir it to pieces. Let sections of the mince develop a dark brown crust first, then break it apart.
- Remove the browned mince. Add the onion and cook until golden. Add the grated carrot and cook for another 4–5 minutes until it starts disappearing into the onion.
- Add the garlic, Pasta a la Sam + Arm Maat and fry for about 30 seconds.
- Add the tomato paste and cook until it becomes noticeably darker. This is one of the secrets to a richer sauce.
- Return the mince. Add the tomatoes, Yanky BBQ Sauce, chutney, Worcestershire sauce and beef stock.
- Simmer uncovered for 25–30 minutes, stirring occasionally. You want a thick sauce rather than watery mince swimming in tomato.
- Add the brown vinegar right at the end. That little acidic kick cuts through the sweetness of the Yanky and chutney and makes the beef flavour pop.
- Cook the spaghetti until just al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.
- Here's what makes this different from the usual SA plate of spaghetti with mince dumped on top: add the spaghetti directly into the mince sauce with the butter and a splash of pasta water. Toss over medium heat for 1–2 minutes until every strand is coated in that thick sauce.
- Serve immediately with mature cheddar and parsley.