Mi Goreng Graduate: Spaghetti Bolognese

Mi Goreng Graduate: Spaghetti Bolognese

Welcome to Semester Two! I hope you had a great break and are braced for a wintery start to the second half of the year. We have an absolute classic this week: the humble spaghetti bolognese. I know what you’re thinking: “Pfft please! I know how to make spag bowl.” But when I tell you that you don’t make it this good, you gotta believe me. Simple is best, and with a little special ingredient you’ve got the best spag the flat’s ever laid eyes on. Give it a go and thank me later. 

Ingredients 

  • Oil
  • Salt and pepper 
  • 1 x large brown onion (diced) 
  • 2 x carrots (diced) (diced not grated makes a massive difference!)
  • 2 x sticks celery (diced) 
  • 3 x garlic cloves (finely chopped) 
  • 500 g beef mince 
  • ½ cup whole milk (I know it feels like we’ve gone rogue here but trust the process people) 
  • 1 can pasta sauce (recommend the Pam’s garlic one) 
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 1 x beef OXO cube (crumbled in plain) 
  • 1 tsp dried oregano 
  • 1 tsp dried mixed herbs 

Method 

  1. Place a large pot, with a small amount of oil in the bottom, over a medium heat. 
  2. Dice your onion, carrots and celery, and add to the pot. Sauté the vegetables with a pinch of salt for approx. 10 mins or until soft, stirring occasionally.
  3. Add the garlic and cook for a further 3 mins until fragrant. 
  4. From here add the mince to the pot. Stir into the vegetables to break it up and cook for 5 mins until browned. 
  5. Add the milk and cook for a couple of minutes stirring to incorporate. 
  6. From here add in your pasta sauce, tomatoes, OXO cube, oregano, and mixed herbs, plus some salt and pepper. Over medium heat bring the sauce to a simmer.
  7. Once it has been decently bubbling for approx 5 mins, lower the heat and cook with the lid on for a further 15 mins. 
  8. While the sauce cooks, chuck in your pasta and prepare any extras like grated cheese or garlic bread. 
  9. Remove the lid and simmer for a final 5 mins. 

Serve up and enjoy a tasty flat feed!

This article first appeared in Issue 14, 2025.
Posted 1:14pm Monday 14th July 2025 by Ruby Hudson.