Best Bolognese Bake Recipes

STUFFED PASTA BAKE BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• To make the bolognese, heat the oil in a wide ovenproof pan over a medium heat. Fry the onion, celery and carrot with some seasoning for 20 mins until soft and lightly golden. Tip in the beef mince, turn up the heat and fry, stirring regularly, for another 10 mins until the mince browns. Add the garlic, fry for a minute, then pour in the wine and bubble for a few mins more, scraping the pan to release any bits. Stir through the purée, bay leaves and tomatoes, with a canful of water. Simmer for 1½ hrs, covered for the first hour, then remove the lid and bubble until the tomatoes have broken down. Season with salt, pepper, the sugar and balsamic vinegar.
• Tip the pasta shells into a large heatproof bowl with a pinch of salt, and pour over a kettle of boiled water. Cover and leave to soften for 15-20 mins - they need to retain some firmness so you can fill them.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 4 and drain the pasta. Use a fork to mash the mascarpone with the mozzarella, chopped basil, garlic and some black pepper in a bowl.
• The bolognese should be a little wetter than you'd like as the pasta shells will absorb some of the liquid as it bakes. Remove from the heat, giving it a final stir. Using a teaspoon, fill the pasta shells with some of the mascarpone mixture, pressing the mix in with your index finger. Nestle the shells into the sauce, filled-side up. Bake for 20-30 mins until the top is golden and bubbling, and the pasta is tender. Grate over some parmesan and finish with a few basil leaves.

TURKEY BOLOGNESE PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pan. Add the onions and cook for 8-10 mins until softened. Add the mince and brown all over. Once browned, add the garlic, tomatoes, chipotle paste and chicken stock, and bring to the boil. Turn down to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 35-40 mins, adding a splash of water if it looks too dry.
• While the turkey cooks, boil the pasta following pack instructions, then drain, reserving some of the water. Warm through the mascarpone with a splash of the hot pasta water over a low heat. Add 140g cheddar, season and stir to combine.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Transfer the turkey sauce to a large baking dish. Stir the cheese sauce through the pasta and pour over the mince. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar and the parmesan on top. Bake in the oven for 20 mins or until golden and crisping at the edges.

GNOCCHI BOLOGNESE BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200c. Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat; add onion and garlic and cook for 5 minutes or until soft.
• Add beef and cook, stirring to break up mince, for 5 minutes or until browned.
• Add pasta sauce and season with salt and pepper.
• Bring to the boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until sauce has thickened.
• Meanwhile, bring a saucepan of salted water to the boil and cook gnocchi partially (about 3 minutes should do) then drain. Gnocchi will finish cooking in the oven!
• Spoon meat sauce into a baking dish (6cm deep, 24X30cm base).
• Top with gnocchi, sprinkle with cheese, then bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and browning and sauce bubbling at edges.

TWISTY BOLOGNESE PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Cook the spiral pasta until tender.
• Cook lean beef mince in a frying pan until browned and spoon onto pasta.
• Empty jar of Pasta Bake (I use Leggo's) over mince and mix all together.
• Sprinkle with cheeses and back in a preheated oven on 190 degrees C for 20 minutes.
• Variation: add grated carrot and zucchini, or baby spinach and pine nuts.

BOLOGNESE BAKE

Steps:

• Heat grill to high. In a large, non-stick frying pan, fry the mince until browned. Add the garlic, sugar and herbs, and cook for 1 min more. Pour over the passata, add seasoning, then simmer while you cook pasta, following the pack instructions.
• Meanwhile, mix the crème fraîche and Parmesan. Spoon half the mince into an ovenproof dish. Mix the rest with the pasta and pour this on top. Drizzle over the Parmesan cream and grill until golden and bubbling. Serve with salad and garlic bread.