Mexicali Bolognese Recipes

SIMPLE BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• In a large skillet heat the olive oil. When almost smoking, add the onion and garlic and saute over medium heat until the onions become very soft, about 8 minutes. Add the celery and carrot and saute for 5 minutes. Raise heat to high and add the ground beef. Saute, stirring frequently and breaking up any large lumps and cook until meat is no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes, parsley and basil and cook over medium low heat until the sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper. This will take approximately 1/2 hour. Finish bolognese with Pecorino Romano.

MEXICALI BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• IF USING CHICKEN: Place chicken in a baking dish sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until done. Use forks to shred the meat. Set aside.
• Heat olive oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and mushrooms and sauté until onion is translucent and nearly all liquid has evaporated.
• Toss in the peppers and sauté another minute or until fragrant. Add the cans of tomatoes, salsa, sauce and taco seasoning.
• Stir in the shredded chicken and reduce the heat. Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes. Uncover and stir thoroughly. Add in the cream cheese, stirring until well blended and not lumpy.
• Add the corn and cilantro and stir to combine. Toss over noodles.
• IF USING ITALIAN SAUSAGE: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown sausage in a drizzle of olive oil until thoroughly cooked (no pink).
• Heat olive oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Brown the sausage, add the onion and mushrooms and sauté until onion is translucent and nearly all liquid has evaporated.
• Toss in the peppers and sauté another minute or until fragrant. Add the cans of tomatoes, salsa, sauce and taco seasoning.
• Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes. Uncover and stir thoroughly. Add in the cream cheese, stirring until well blended and not lumpy.
• Add the corn and cilantro and stir to combine. Toss over noodles.

CLASSIC BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Heat a large, heavy pot over medium heat. Add EVOO, 2 turns of the pan. Add the butter to the oil in small pieces and when the butter foams, add the onions, carrots, celery, garlic and bay and stir, about 5 minutes. Add pancetta and stir 8 to 10 more minutes to render and crisp. Add about a third of the beef and crumble it with a wooden paddle or spoon, let all of the liquid absorb and let the meat begin to lightly caramelize before adding the next third; repeat. Season the meat with salt, pepper, white pepper and nutmeg. Add white wine, about a quarter to a third of a bottle, then stir and let it absorb into the meat. Scrape up all of the fond or the drippings from the meats and vegetables, being careful not to burn the meat. Add milk, tomatoes and about 1 cup stock, a piece of cheese rind from Parmigiano-Reggiano if you have one, then lower heat to simmer, partially cover and cook the sauce 2 1/2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally and thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Add up to 1 extra cup of stock if needed if sauce gets too thick. The perfect traditional Bolognese should be buttery, uniform and emulsified, the consistency of rich, tender, pourable oatmeal. Remove bay leaf and the rind, if using, from the sauce. Sauce may be made a few days ahead as the longer it sets, the better it gets.
• To serve, cook pasta in salted water 1 minute less than package directions for al dente. Reserve 1 full cup of starchy cooking water, then drain pasta and place back in hot pot.
• Combine pasta with about two-thirds of the sauce, the cooking water and a couple of handfuls of grated cheese, tossing with tongs to combine.
• Serve pasta in shallow bowls with a little torn basil.

MEXICALI CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a large skillet coated with cooking spray, cook turkey, onions and pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender, breaking up turkey into crumbles, 6-8 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Stir in beans, tomatoes, water, rice, olives, chili powder and salt., Transfer to an 11x7-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake, covered, until rice is tender, 50-55 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes longer.

THE BEST SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE RECIPE

Steps:

• Put a large saucepan on a medium heat and add 1 tbsp olive oil.
• Add 4 finely chopped bacon rashers and fry for 10 mins until golden and crisp.
• Reduce the heat and add the 2 onions, 2 carrots, 2 celery sticks, 2 garlic cloves and the leaves from 2-3 sprigs rosemary, all finely chopped, then fry for 10 mins. Stir the veg often until it softens.
• Increase the heat to medium-high, add 500g beef mince and cook stirring for 3-4 mins until the meat is browned all over.
• Add 2 tins plum tomatoes, the finely chopped leaves from ¾ small pack basil, 1 tsp dried oregano, 2 bay leaves, 2 tbsp tomato purée, 1 beef stock cube, 1 deseeded and finely chopped red chilli (if using), 125ml red wine and 6 halved cherry tomatoes. Stir with a wooden spoon, breaking up the plum tomatoes.
• Bring to the boil, reduce to a gentle simmer and cover with a lid. Cook for 1 hr 15 mins stirring occasionally, until you have a rich, thick sauce.
• Add the 75g grated parmesan, check the seasoning and stir.
• When the bolognese is nearly finished, cook 400g spaghetti following the pack instructions.
• Drain the spaghetti and either stir into the bolognese sauce, or serve the sauce on top. Serve with more grated parmesan, the remaining basil leaves and crusty bread, if you like.

MEXICALI PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook the rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; drain.
• Mix black beans, corn, green chilies, red bell pepper, Italian dressing, Mexican cheese, green onions, cilantro, onion, taco seasoning, and lime juice together in a bowl. Add rotini and lightly stir to combine.