Easy Baby Bolognese
With four veggies, ample iron, and an easy method, this Baby Bolognese sauce is a delicious meal to share. It works as a baby food combination or tossed with pasta and topped with Parmesan cheese.
Servings: 8 - 10
Calories: 404kcal
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- ½ cup minced onion
- ½ cup minced carrot
- ½ cup minced celery
- 1 pound ground beef
- 24 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- salt to taste
- ¼ cup heavy cream (optional)
- 1 pound pasta (cooked according to package directions)
- Parmesan for serving
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a large pot over medium heat on the stove.
- When warm, add the garlic, onion, carrot, and celery. Stir to coat with oil and cook for 4-6 minutes or until the vegetables are starting to soften.
- Add the beef and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring often and continuing to break up the meat, until mostly browned and cooked through.
- Add the oregano, salt, and crushed tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and lower the heat to low. Add 1 cup water and stir in evenly.
- Cover, slightly askew to allow some steam to escape. Simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until the vegetables are completely softened into the sauce. If they are not fully soft at the end of that time or if the sauce starts to stick to the pan at all, add a little more water and continue.
- Stir in the heavy cream if using.
- Serve sauce with pasta and Parmesan, if desired.
Notes
- Store leftover Baby Bolognese in an airtight container or in a freezer tray for future meals. It can be stored for 5 days in the fridge or up to 6 months in the freezer.
- Use frozen or precut mirepoix and jarred minced garlic to remove most of the chopping and prep time from this recipe.
- Use lean ground beef or you can substitute in ground turkey if you prefer.
- To make this vegetarian, omit the beef and stir in 2 cups fully cooked and soft lentils.
- Serve to baby with a spoon or toss with pasta and serve as a finger food. (The entire family can enjoy this too!)
Nutrition
Calories: 404kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 166mg | Potassium: 628mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1662IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 3mg