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Summer Bolognese

Our Summer Bolognese is a crowd-pleasing, lightened up version of traditional bolognese with a rainbow of tomatoes and fresh basil.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian, Pasta
Servings: 6 people

Equipment

  • 1 food processor optional

Ingredients

  • 12 oz mezzi rigatoni or preferred pasta
  • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 shallot finely diced
  • 2 large or 3 small carrots finely diced
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 1/4 tsp oregano
  • 1/4 c dry white wine like sauvignon blanc
  • 12 oz rainbow cherry or grape tomatoes halved
  • handful of fresh basil torn, plus more for garnish
  • 3 Tbsp parmesan cheese freshly grated, plus more for topping

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1/2 tsp salt and then add pasta. Cook according to package instructions. Reserve 3/4 c of pasta water and drain.
  • In the bowl of a food processor, add the carrots, shallot, and garlic. Process until finely chopped. Alternatively, you can finely chop the vegetables by hand.
  • In a large pan, melt butter then add shallot, carrots, and garlic. Season with 1/4 tsp salt and pepper. Cook until veggies soften, about 8 mins.
  • Move veggies to the side of the pan, and add ground beef. Season beef with 1/4 tsp salt and pepper. Gently break up beef and cook until browned, about 10 mins.
  • Add the tomato paste and oregano. Stir until combined and cook for 1 min. Add the white wine and simmer for 2 mins. Add 1/2 c of pasta water, tomatoes, and basil. Simmer until tomatoes begin to burst, about 6 - 8 mins.
  • Add cooked pasta to the sauce, then top with cheese. Stir to combine and season with salt and pepper. If sauce thickens, add a bit more pasta water. Serve topped with more parmesan cheese and basil.