Method
1. Warm a deep frying pan over a medium heat, then add a splash of olive oil and the mince. Fry for 5-8 mins, stirring now and then to break up any lumps, till the beef is browned all over.
2. While the mince fries, peel and finely chop the onion. Peel and finely chop the carrots. Trim the celery sticks and finely chop them.
3. Stir the veg into the mince and pop on a lid (or use a baking tray if you don’t have a lid). Fry, stirring now and then, for another 5 mins till the veg start to look glossy.
4. While the veg fry, finely slice the mushrooms. From this point, either follow the slow cooker method or the hob method.
5. In The Slow cCooker
Scoop the mince and veg into your slow cooker. Add the sliced mushrooms, dried oregano, Worcester sauce and a pinch of salt and pepper. Give everything a gentle stir to mix. Tip in the chopped tomatoes and cherry tomato passata and gently stir.
6. Put the lid on the slow cooker and set it to medium. Cook for 6 hrs, stirring once or twice during the cooking time (for faster bolognese, set the slow cooker to high for 4 hrs or go really low and slow by setting it to slow for 8 hrs).
7. When the sauce is 30 mins from being cooked, put a large pan of salted water on to boil. When boiling, add the spaghetti and simmer for 8-10 mins. Drain and pile onto four warm plates. Taste the bolognese sauce and add a pinch more salt and pepper or a pinch of sugar, if you think it needs it. Spoon over the spaghetti and serve with the parmesan cheese for grating.
8. On The Hob
Add the sliced mushrooms to the beef and veg, put the lid back on and fry for 5 mins till the mushrooms are juicy. Stir in the dried oregano, Worcester sauce and a pinch of salt and pepper. Give everything a gentle stir to mix. Tip in the chopped tomatoes and passata and gently stir.
9. Cover the pan with the lid. Set the heat to medium-low and simmer for 1 hr, stirring now and then, till the sauce has thickened and the mince is tender.
10. When the sauce is 30 mins from being cooked, put a large pan of salted water on to boil. When boiling, add the spaghetti and simmer for 8-10 mins. Drain and pile onto four warm plates. Taste the bolognese sauce and add a pinch more salt and pepper or a pinch of sugar, if you think it needs it. Spoon over the spaghetti and serve with the parmesan cheese for grating.