Ingredients

• 1 medium red onion (puréed using a Bamix or food processor)
• 2 garlic cloves
• 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 500g of veal or pork minced meat
• 500g of premium beef minced meat
• 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
• 3 tablespoons of fresh parsley, washed and chopped finely (or 3 teaspoons of dried parsley)
• 1 teaspoon of iodised salt flakes
• 2 teaspoons of brown sugar (optional)
• 2 x 700ml bottles of tomato passata

To Serve

Pasta of any kind, cooked to instructions

Pecorino cheese, grated

Directions

In a blender, purée the onion and garlic until ‘mushy’ in consistency. In a large, heavy-based saucepan add the olive oil. Warm this gently over a low heat and then add the puréed onion and garlic. Cook for 7–8 minutes on a low heat, until translucent in colour.

Add the minced meat to the saucepan and allow to brown, stirring and separating the meat to allow it to cook evenly (around 20–25 minutes).

Add the tomato paste and allow to simmer for 3–4 minutes.

Add the parsley, salt and sugar and gently stir into the sauce. Allow to simmer for approximately 3–4 minutes.

Slowly add the tomato passata, stirring while you pour. Keep the sauce on a low heat and simmer for around 90 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove the sauce from the heat and allow to cool before serving.

For toddlers, start with around 1/2 cup of sauce and 1/2 cup of cooked pasta (with a sprinkle of Pecorino cheese) but your toddler may want seconds…

Introducing new foods hint

Over time try introducing other vegies during the cooking process (e.g. sliced mushrooms). Adding extra vegetables to a bolognese sauce is a toddler-friendly way to include these foods.

Cooking hint

This recipe also works well with half the ingredients, if you want to make smaller amounts. Leftover sauce can be frozen.