Cheap Spaghetti Bolognese

This is one of the most simplest recipes, and once you have chopped the vegetables and browned the meat it basically cooks itself.

Approx cost - £1.50p
Serves 4 people

Ingredients:

• 2 TBSLP of oil
• 270 g of Minced Beef
• 100g of mushrooms finely chopped
• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 1 carrot finely grated
• 2 cloves of garlic - minced
• 3/4 pint of beef stock
• 4 TBLSP of tomato puree
• 1 Bay leaf
• Salt and pepper
• Spaghetti

Method:

• Heat oil in a large pan
• Add the onion, carrot, mushrooms and garlic and cook gently for 4 minutes
• Add the minced beef and stir in well and brown
• Add the tomato puree and stir in
• Add the beef stock and bay leaf, stir well
• Bring to the pan to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently with the lid on for 35 minutes, stirring occasionally
• Taste and if required add salt and pepper to taste
• Remove lid and reduce the sauce until it starts to thicken
• remove the bay leaf
• Serve with Spaghetti with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top and enjoy !

Meatballs in Rich Tomato Sauce with Spaghetti

If my wife see's me take minced beef come out of the freezer, the first thing she asks is are we having meatballs, and once cooked, she counts how many go on each plate to make sure we have an equal amount.

The finished meal

Cost - Approx £1.30p per person

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 425g of beef mince meat
• 1 egg
• 1 TSP of Dried Basil
• 1 TSP of ground black pepper
• 1 TSP  of Marjoram
• 1 TSP of Onion Granules
• 1 TSP of Garlic Powder
• 4 TBLSP of breadcrumbs
• 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
• 4 Cloves of garlic - minced
• 150g of spaghetti
• 1 tsp of ground black pepper
• 2 tsp of Parsley

Method for the meatball:

• Combine the first 8 ingredients ingredients in a large bowl and with your hand mix well
• Take a piece of the mix and roll it in the palm of your hands to form small balls
• Place balls on a plate and set aside
• When ready to cook, add some oil to a frying pan, and place the meatballs into the pan, and cook, turning regularly

Method for the sauce:

• In a pan add the tomatoes, pepper, garlic and Parsley
• Bring to the boil and on a low to medium heat reduce, stirring occasionally for 15-20 minutes
• Place in a blend and blend smooth
• Set aside

Method for Spaghetti:

• Cook spaghetti as per pack instructions

To assemble the meal:

• Heat the tomato sauce
• Drain the pasta and add the tomato sauce to the pan of Spaghetti
• Mix well
• Turn onto plates
• Add meatballs
• Serve with pecorino/Parmesan cheese

The prepared meatballs

Th blended tomato sauce

The meatballs cooking

The finished meal