I know I share a common struggle with many of you… making healthy meals that are quick and easy to prepare and cook… and that the whole family will actually eat!
One of our family favourites is home-made beef Bolognese. Not very imaginative you might say, but I’ve mastered cooking it in under 30 mins when I get in from work; there’s enough for 2 nights dinner, it’s tasty and healthy and everyone eats it… winner winner beef dinner!
Ingredients
- 500g lean steak mince beef
- around half a chopped onion
- 1 chopped clove of garlic
- 1 grated carrot
- 1 grated courgette
- 1 tin of chopped tomatoes
- dried oregano, basil
- olive oil
Method
Heat up a glug of olive oil in a large frying pan or saucepan (medium heat), and add the onions and garlic. To keep things super-simple, I use frozen onion and garlic – I’ve found these really handy for reducing food wastage, plus they don’t need any prep so saves a bit of time!
As the onions turn translucent, and before they turn brown add in the beef mince and start stirring it so it cooks evenly. Straight after adding the beef, add in the grated carrot and courgette. These are a great way of adding flavour to the dish and sneaking in veg and vitamins in to children’s meals who might not eat them otherwise! You could of course add in other veg like mushrooms and peppers – chopped up finely or chunky – whatever works best for you – again you can get these frozen and ready to chuck in the pan!
It will only need a few minutes of frying til the beef starts turning brown. While it’s still cooking (i.e.. before it’s all turned brown), add in the tinned tomatoes, and any herbs – my favourites for this dish are basil and oregano.
Then just let it simmer away while you cook some pasta to go with it (we always have penne instead of spaghetti – much less messy!) and serve with grated cheese, garlic bread and/or a side salad (we like baby leaf salad, chopped avocado, cucumber and baby plum tomatoes). Something for everyone!
Result: delicious and in my opinion tastes SO much better than using a jar of pre-made sauce! Plus it means the kids get a mix of vitamins, protein and carbs in one meal. Beef is naturally rich in protein, and a source of iron which helps reduce tiredness and fatigue. And ready from start to finish in 30 minutes which was part of the #MeatMatters challenge 🙂
This post is an entry for the #MeatMatters Challenge, sponsored by Simply Beef and Lamb. Learn more about the benefits of cooking and eating beef and lamb along with recipe ideas and inspiration here: https://www.simplybeefandlamb.co.uk
Disclosure: I wasn’t paid to write this post, but I was given a £10 Tesco voucher to buy all the ingredients to take part in the #MeatMatters challenge.
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