Maria NasirBolognese Sauce is an Italian Classic meat sauce, served with tagliatelle or any flat pasta. In Italy its not served with Spaghetti because the meat sauce doesn’t stick to that form of pasta. This same sauce has become very popular outside Italy too and has many variations to it. Not only it’s served with spaghetti but is commonly known as just meat sauce.
This Spaghetti in Chicken and Spinach Sauce is my version of one of the most popular takeaway dishes around the world. Adding spinach to it not only makes it more nutritious but adds another layer of flavour to it too. Making it at home is far quicker and easier than ordering from take away and you can also control the amount of oil and salt going in. To my delight, my younger daughter who runs away from all greens happily ate spinach in this form for the very first time. And now this has become our most favourite comfort family meal for any time of the week.
Ingredients:
Chicken mince, half kg
6 ripe tomatoes, puréed
1 small onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 a carrot, finely diced
1+1/2 cup frozen or blanched spinach
Salt & pepper to taste
Spaghetti, 1 packet, 400gm
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese ( optional)
Dried or fresh basil leaves ( or any herb of your choice)
4 tablespoons olive oil
This Is What You Do:
Heat oil in a large pan on medium heat. When the oil is hot, brown chicken mince.
Add onions, garlic and carrot.
Add spinach. Stir the ingredients until thoroughly combined.
Add tomato purée. Season with salt and pepper.
Cook the sauce covered. Allow it to simmer for 7-8 minutes.
Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions in salted water until al dente. Reserve a cup of pasta water.
Add the drained spaghetti to the sauce and toss to mix. Add the reserved pasta water if you prefer more sauce in your pasta.
Top with grated parmesan or your favourite cheese and herbs .I crushed a dried basil leaf over mine.
Serve hot.
Makes 4 servings