Spaghetti Bolognese: The Perfect Cheesy Combinations

Spaghetti bolognese is a versatile dish that can be made with various cheeses to add taste and texture to the sauce. The type of cheese you choose depends on your personal preference for hardness, sharpness, and creaminess. Hard cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano, Grana Padano, and Pecorino Romano are classic choices for spaghetti bolognese, adding a sharp, salty flavour. Semi-hard cheeses like mozzarella and ricotta can also be used, providing a milder, creamier taste that melts beautifully into the sauce.

Parmesan

Parmigiano-Reggiano is the name for traditional parmesan from Italy, and it can only be given this name if it is from designated areas of the country. However, the recipe has been replicated across the world. Parmigiano-Reggiano is considered to be of a higher quality than its cheaper alternative, Grana Padano, which is made with a very similar production process.

Mozzarella

Here's a simple recipe for a Mozzarella Pasta Bolognese:

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 500g lean beef mince
• 410g can crushed tomatoes with garlic and herbs
• 140g tub tomato paste
• 3/4 cup beef stock
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon finely shredded fresh basil
• 500g penne or rigatoni pasta, cooked until al dente, drained
• 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan and saute the onion until soft.
• Add the beef mince and saute, stirring constantly over high heat until browned.
• Add the undrained tomatoes, paste, stock, and sugar. Simmer covered for about 30 minutes or until the mince is tender and the mixture has thickened.
• Stir in the basil.
• Combine the sauce and pasta, spoon half into a baking dish, and top with 1 cup of mozzarella.
• Layer the remaining pasta and mozzarella on top.
• Bake at 180°C for 15 minutes or until heated through and the cheese is golden brown.

Enjoy your delicious and cheesy spaghetti bolognese!

Cheddar

While Italian chefs might be horrified at the idea of grating cheddar on your spaghetti bolognese, it is ultimately down to personal preference.

Ricotta

A whipped ricotta is a great addition to a bolognese dish, adding a creaminess to the pasta. It is simply ricotta cheese that has been blended in a food processor for a minute or until whipped and smooth. It is then seasoned with fresh garlic and herbs.

To make a pasta bolognese with ricotta, you can add the ricotta to the sauce and stir until melted and creamy. You can also make a garlic ricotta by combining ricotta with olive oil and garlic paste, and seasoning with salt and pepper. This can then be served on top of the pasta and bolognese.

Feta

A popular recipe for spaghetti bolognese with feta includes beef, spinach, and feta. To make this dish, start by frying an onion and garlic, then add the mince and cook until browned. Next, add the tomatoes, tomato paste, and herbs, and simmer until thickened. While the sauce is cooking, boil the spaghetti in salted water. Finally, stir in the spinach until wilted, then serve the sauce over the pasta and crumble feta on top.

Another variation of this dish includes lamb mince, white wine, and butternut squash 'noodles'. This recipe follows similar steps, but includes an extra step of roasting the butternut squash noodles in the oven. The sauce is then served over the noodles and topped with feta and mint leaves.

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