Extra veggies bolognese is perfect for kids. It contains six different veggies that reduce down as the sauce simmers.
I always add extra vegetables to sauce based dishes and bolognese is no different, it is a great way to help towards our five (or ten) a day. This extra veggies bolognese is packed with six different veggies – onion, celery, capsicum (pepper), eggplant (aubergine) and tomatoes.
Eggplants are not something that I would normally add to bolognese but after adding it to the last chilli I made I thought I’d try it. It literally dissolves into the meat as it simmers and I don’t think anyone would even notice it was there. If you have a particularly fussy eater, that can spot any tiny bit of veg, I would suggest removing the skin before chopping. I would also grate the onion and carrots or chop as finely as possible.
My Extra Veggies Bolognese usually changes each time I make it. I often mix up the veggies depending on what I have in the fridge. Zucchini (courgette) dissolves into the sauce, just like the aubergine. Mushrooms are great in bolognese and sometime I even stir through some peas. I will try anything to up the vegetable content!
I love to serve this with courgetti, (spiralizied zucchini / courgette noodles) just to add another veg to the dish.
Looking for more healthy kid recipes?Sign up for my free recipe newsletter to get new family friendly recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing more kind-friendly inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram.
Extra Veggies Bolognese
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp oil
- 2 onions (brown, red or white) - finely chopped
- 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and 1 cm diced SEE NOTE 1
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 500g (1.1lb) lean beef mince (lean ground beef)
- 800g (28oz) Can chopped / crushed tomatoes (2 x 400g / 14oz cans)
- 1 Eggplant (aubergine) 1cm cubed SEE NOTE 1
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp rosemary
- 2 bay leaves
Instructions
- Add the oil to a sauce pan on a medium - low heat.
- Add the onions, carrots, celery, garlic and gently fry for around 10 minutes (until soft)
- Increase the heat and add the mince and stir and break down the mince. Continue until the meat is browned all over and broken down into nice small pieces. (around 10 mins)
- Add the italian seasoning, tomatoes & aubergine and simmer, lid on, for at least 1 hour (stir occasionally and check that there is enough liquid).I like to simmer for 2 hours when I have the time.
Recipe Notes
- If you have a fussy eater who spots even tiny pieces in their food then I recommend peeling and grated the vegetables. This way they should go un noticed.
* Nutritional information is a guideline only, calculated using an online nutrition calculator.
ALLY says
Never added aubergine to bolognese before but it worked great