Budget-friendly meal plan 50/50 Bolognese

Name: Budget-friendly meal plan 50/50 Bolognese
Cook time: 2 h 40 min
Total time: 2 h 40 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: ½ a bunch of rosemary (10g); 6 rashers smoked pancetta or smoked streaky bacon; olive oil; 750 g minced beef or pork; 8 cloves of garlic; 500 g fresh or frozen chopped mixed onion, carrot & celery; 5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; 3 x 400 g tins of lentils; 4 x 400 g tins of plum tomatoes

Instructions

Cook:2h 40min

This big-batch recipe serves 12 – so you can split it into three meals for 4. You can enjoy one lot straight away – simply cook some pasta to serve alongside (see our tip below for spaghetti Bolognese). Cool and freeze the remaining two lots separately. Defrost and enjoy one of these later this week, transformed into a cheat’s cottage pie. Then keep the final batch to defrost and transform into a Sloppy Joe in week 4! Using half lentils and half minced beef or pork here means it’s not only kinder to the planet, but your wallet, too. Packing in a mighty 3 of your 5-a day, this winter warmer is full of the good stuff.

Updated at: Fri, 27 Sep 2024 10:03:42 GMT