Rice Bolognese

By alexisknibbs on Sep 6, 2024

Rice Bolognese

Pasta meals are always well receive in our little family. My husband Howard, son Ted and I enjoy a pasta dish. Occasionally though I enjoy a changing meals. It makes life so much more interesting. For this bolognaise I decided to add rice instead. I'd never thought about it before but we had nearly run out of pasta so I felt rice would make a yummy change. The dinner was so tasty and it's definitely one recipe I'll be using in future.

What meals do you enjoy improvising with? Let me know in the comments below and please don't forget to like and follow me.

Gifts from Grandpa is my NEW recipe book – out NOW and available to buy on Amazon for only £19.99. Plus £1 from the sale of each book will go to Crisis the homeless charity.

Equipment

Vegetable peeler
Sharp knife
Chopping board
Vegetable grater
Saucepan
Stirring spoon
Tablespoon
Teaspoon

Ingredients

Mince beef x 500g
Onion x 1
Garlic x 2 cloves
Carrot x 1
Courgette x 1
Bone broth or chicken stock x 200mls
Tomatoes x 1 400g tin
Tomato puree x 2 tbsp
Bay leaves x 1
Dried oregano x 1 - 2 tsp or fresh oregano x 1 small handful
Salt and pepper to taste
Basil x 1 small handful

Method

Preheat the oven to 160°C or gas mark 3.
Peel and grate the carrot and courgette.
Set these ingredients to one side.
Peel, slice and dice the onion and set these ingredients to one side.
Put the large saucepan onto a high heat on the hob and add oil to the base.
When the pan is hot, add in the onion and fry until it starts to soften.
Add in the grated carrot and courgette.
Fry these ingredients until they are warmed through.
As they are grated they will cook slightly easier.
Measure the rice and put it into the saucepan.
Place the rice under the tap and add water.
Move the rice around in the pan.
The water should start to discolour with the starch from the rice.
Pour through the colander and repeat the process once or twice more.
By the end of the process the water should start to look more clear.
Place the rice into the saucepan and fry until it starts to become clear or see through.
It should take around 30 seconds to a minute.
Pour over the tomatoes and chicken stock.
There must be enough to cover the rice and then two centimetres above the top of where the rice sits in the pan.
Now add in the tomato puree, bay leaves and dried or fresh oregano.
Sprinkle in salt to you tastes.
Put the pan onto a high heat on the hob and put the lid on.
Let the pan come to the boil.
When the pan is boiling turn the heat down to a medium heat.
Leave the pan to simmer until all of the liquid has disappeared.
It will take a little while to cook the rice so please be patient.
On my hob it takes a good 30 minutes but other hobs my be different.
Once the liquid has disappeared remove from the heat.
Be careful towards the end as the rice can sometimes stick to the base of the pan.
Towards the end be sure to check by putting the spoon in the rice to see if there is any liquid left.
If there is no liquid fluff it with the spoon.
However if there is liquid put the lid back on and leave for a further few minutes.
Continue this process until all the liquid disappears.
Sprinkle over salt and pepper to taste.
Meanwhile fry the mince beef until brown all over and add it to the pan.
Tear the basil and add it to the pan.
Stir the basil in the pan and let it wilt down.
Cook the pasta as per the packet instructions.
Add the pasta to the sauce.
Then serve and enjoy.

Rice Bolognese

Rice Bolognese was a delicious dinner. It was easy to prepare and cook. Unfortunately the rice cannot be frozen. Therefore you can't really make extra portions and freeze them. This dish is better cooked fresh. It can be eaten as leftovers the next day. It must be eaten by the end of the next day. However you decide to eat this dish, as always, please enjoy. Thank you. xxx