The Boyfriend Bolognese
Thanks to the men in my life — I have learnt to cook foods that I would not otherwise. I honestly think my dad, grandfathers and my first love showed parts of me I didn’t know I love being in this world: a chef. True, I’m not always great, but when I nail a recipe its a hit. Like this bolognese recipe.
My first boyfriend was professional tennis player… and he loved eating bolognese. Thanks to him, I got to cook a lot, eat healthy and think about nutrients daily living with him. Even he influenced many of my recipes I share here, he was the one approving more or less of them :). But this bolo worked for him (and for me too..) and still is one of my favorite meals to cook, eat and enjoy.
Body Science: This Bolognese is a meat sauce and designed to be qi-boosting to strengthens the Spleen and Stomach. The combination of ground beef and white (lean) turkey will naturally strengthens the Spleen and Stomach, by providing sustained energy, grounding nourishment and giving you vitality.
Ingredients: Aromatics like garlic, onion, and fennel gently warm the digestion, while the slow-simmering process enhances the sauce's ability to support optimal nutrient absorption. And arguably the most important step is to purchase the quality (protein) meat from your locals!
1 yellow onion, diced
2 heirloom tomatoes, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 shallot, minced
1.5 lbs ground beef
1 lb ground turkey
2 jars marinara sauce (32 oz each)
Sprinkle of fennel seeds
2 anchovies (optional) The anchovies add depth and make it taste like it's been cooking for 8 hours!
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
Brown the Meat: Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the ground beef and turkey until fully cooked and set aside.
2. Sauté the Aromatics: In a pot of heat to medium. Add the diced onion, shallot, and minced garlic. Sauté until translucent and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
3. Combine Meat and Sauce: Return the browned meat to the pot with the vegetables.
4, Stir in the marinara sauce and add water if needed.
5. Add the Fennel Seeds (and Anchovies): Add the anchovies and sprinkle of fennel seeds. Stir well to combine.
Simmer: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low.
Taste: the sauce and season with salt and pepper before serving.
Enjoy!
Enjoy 2: the day after and freeze the left overs!
Again ain’t my bolognese, the credits to my first love, his talent in tennis and his eternal passion to live healthy eating happy meals :)