I made Ina Garten's easy weeknight Bolognese pasta. The delicious dish was ready in 30 minutes.

Ina Garten's quick Bolognese pasta recipe, perfect for a busy weeknight, takes only 30 minutes to prepare. This dish, featuring orecchiette pasta, ground sirloin, fresh basil, and dry red wine, is packed with flavorful ingredients. Garten recommends using San Marzano canned tomatoes for the best results, although any dried pasta and ground meat can be used as substitutions. The recipe calls for garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, and nutmeg to enhance the sauce's depth.

To start, minced garlic and chopped basil are prepared, followed by cooking ground sirloin in olive oil until it's no longer pink. Seasonings such as oregano and red pepper flakes are added next. Dry red wine is then introduced to the pan, and San Marzano tomatoes (crushed or peeled) and tomato paste are incorporated. The sauce is seasoned with salt and pepper, brought to a boil, and then simmered for 10 minutes.

While the sauce simmers, a pot of water is boiled for the pasta, which is cooked al dente. After draining the pasta, it is combined with the sauce in the pan. Garten advises saving pasta water and adding it back to the sauce along with a splash of heavy cream and some of the reserved wine. Fresh basil leaves are added, and the sauce is finished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

The result is a rich, hearty Bolognese with a perfect balance of flavors. The nutmeg complements the red pepper flakes, while the Parmesan cheese melts into the sauce beautifully. Feedback from those who tasted the dish was overwhelmingly positive, with diners praising the meaty texture and robust flavor. With its simple ingredients and quick preparation time, Ina Garten's easy weeknight Bolognese pasta is a comforting and satisfying choice for any busy night.