I made Ina Garten's easy weeknight bolognese pasta and it only took me 30 minutes

Anneta KonstantinidesDec 11, 2020, 20:23 IST

Insider

Ina Garten has a quick bolognese pasta that she says is perfect for busy weeknights.
The dish includes ground sirloin, orecchiette pasta, dry red wine, and fresh basil leaves.
I decided to try the easy recipe after a long day at work and it only took me 30 minutes.
The pasta was so rich and delicious with the bolognese sauce, which was packed with flavor. I'll definitely be making this dish all winter long.

I tend to be a creature of habit when it comes to cooking during the busy work week. I make the same Greek salad for lunch every day, and I've got a couple of rotating dinners that I usually whip up from Monday to Thursday.

But I've spent more time in the kitchen than ever before this year, which has pushed me to find quick and easy recipes that'll spice up my repertoire - because even frozen Trader Joe's can get really old.

Ina Garten has been my go-to when it comes to picking new pasta dishes, so this month I decided to take her weeknight bolognese for a spin.

The rich and comforting dish was exactly what I needed after a long day. Better yet? I made it in just 30 minutes.

Ina Garten shared the recipe for her bolognese pasta not longer after the pandemic first hit.

Ina Garten posted daily pantry-friendly recipes on her Instagram during the early months of the pandemic. Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC Newswire/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Garten's weeknight bolognese is made with ground sirloin, orecchiette or small shells, and dry red wine.

Garten's weeknight bolognese also features San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, and fresh basil. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Before I started making my bolognese sauce, I just needed to do a little prep.

First I minced my garlic. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Then I chopped up my fresh basil.

You'll need 1/4 cup of fresh basil leaves for Garten's recipe. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

It was time to get my sauce going, and first up was the meat.

I used a wooden spoon to crumble my ground sirloin. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Then it was time to season the meat.

I added garlic, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes to season the meat. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Next up was my favorite step - the wine.

Then I added 1 cup of dry red wine to my skillet. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Then I added my San Marzano tomatoes and tomato paste.

Garten's recipe calls for a whole can of crushed San Marzano tomatoes. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I gave everything a good stir, then brought my sauce to a boil.

As my sauce simmered, I brought another pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

As the pasta cooked, I put the finishing touches on my sauce.

Fresh basil leaves, nutmeg, and heavy cream were the final touches for my sauce. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I let my sauce simmer for another 10 minutes while I waited for my pasta to turn al dente.

The sauce filled my kitchen with an incredible smell. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Once the pasta was cooked, I used a slotted spoon to transfer the shells to my sauce.

My pasta cooked in about 10 minutes. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I added another ¼ cup of the red wine and a few spoonfuls of my pasta water.

The more wine, the better. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

After letting it cook for a minute, I was done. The pasta looked glorious, and it tasted even better.

Garten's weeknight bolognese definitely lived up to my high expectations. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Now that winter is fully here, I know I'll be turning to Garten's weeknight bolognese a lot over these next few months.

Garten's recipe gives classic bolognese a slight twist. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

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