This bolognese-style sauce is my go-to recipe when I feel lazy but like to get a tasty meal. It will only takes 20 minutes to make and is great for the budget conscious.

Ingredients

For the sauce:

  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 1 cup of tomato (sauce, diced, crushed)
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1 teaspoon of oil (olive/canola)
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning (or oregano)

For the starch:

  • 3 cups of pasta
  • OR 1/2 cup of rice (3/4 if hungry)

Feeling fancy, you can add the following:

  • Mushrooms, sliced
  • Spinach
  • Green onions, minced
  • A handful of bacon bits
  • Cheese (Parmesan, fresh shredded)

Serves: 2

Instructions

1- Dice the onion, mince the garlic and dice the carrots (if adding any mushrooms, slice them as well).

2- Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. When hot, add in the diced onion and minced garlic and cook for about 3 minutes or until translucent.

3- Bring water with 1/2 teaspoon of salt to a boil and follow the cooking instructions on the package (usually 10 minutes for pasta and 12-13 minutes for white rice).

4 – In the meantime, along with the onions, add in the diced carrots to the frying pan and cook for 2 minutes.

* Note: Add in the sliced mushrooms and the bacon bits at that point.

5- Add in the tomato sauce/crushed along with 1 cup of water. Add in salt, pepper and Italian seasoning to taste. Cook for another 8-10 minutes (until the rice or pasta is ready), over low to medium heat. Add more water if it’s getting dry.
* Note: Add the spinach after the sauce has cooked for about 5 minutes.

Pasta sauce in the making 2

 

6- Drain the pasta or rice and serve on a plate. Top up with the sauce and sprinkle some cheese and minced green onion if you feel like it. Bon appetit!