Dolmio Spaghetti Bolognese + Dolmio Bolognese pizza

Did you know that Spaghetti Bolognese is Australia's #1 favourite home-cooked midweek dish? Ahead of World Pasta Day (Friday 25 October), Dolmio has teamed up with Australian chef and dad of three Tom Walton to give the nation's most-made midweek dish an all-Aussie makeover, with a clever hack that'll help save time and money.

Move over meat pie, it's Spaghetti Bolognese that's the nation's favourite go-to midweek meal.

Dolmio revealed research showing that 61% of Aussie cooks rely on this classic dish during the week, with the number rising to 70% among families. While Spag Bol can be considered a national dish, we all like to do it differently:

• Midweek, most cooks prefer to cook from memory. 53% have a mental recipe they follow (like their family's Spag Bol);

• 38% mostly follow a recipe but might change up something (based on what's in the fridge or to make the meal feel fresh); and

• Only 9% of people prefer to follow a recipe exactly midweek.

Chef Tom has created a delicious Aussie-inspired recipe featuring Dolmio Bolognese sauce, BBQ sauce, grated beetroot, and a mix of beef and pork for an extra flavour kick. As Australians look for ways to stretch their meals, he's also developed a quick Bolognese pizza, perfect for using up leftovers and saving money while still enjoying a hearty meal. 

Dolmio Spaghetti Bolognese + Dolmio Bolognese pizza

by Chef Tom Walton for Dolmio

"Australia's number 1 home-cooked dinner is Bolognese and I've mashed it up to create two dishes. Pasta, with a fun twist on the classic, and pizza, which is a perfect solution for the leftovers! I've used Dolmio Bolognese pasta sauce as the base to build the flavours with its new look label and that delicious Dolmio taste you love", says chef Tom Walton.

Prep/cook time for the pasta: approx. 25 minutes 

Prep /cook time for the pizza: approx. 15 minutes

Ingredients 

Bolognese

1 brown onion, diced

1 medium beetroot, grated

1kg beef mince

500g pork & fennel sausage

2 jars Dolmio Bolognese Pasta Sauce

2 tbsp BBQ sauce

Pasta

500g spaghetti, cooked according to packet instructions

Basil, finely grated parmesan to serve

Pizza

220g fresh pizza dough or use a pre-made pizza base

Flour to roll

½ cup grated mozzarella

Basil, finely grated parmesan to serve

Method

Place a large frying pan over medium, high heat and add the olive oil, onion, beetroot, and a pinch of salt. Cook for 2-3 minutes to soften, then increase the heat and add the beef & sausage mince. Cook for 4-5 minutes, breaking up as it cooks, then add the Dolmio Bolognese sauce, BBQ sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.

Cook the pasta according to packet instructions, reserving ½ cup pasta water. Drain, add to the Bolognese sauce with the pasta water, and toss well.

Season to taste and serve scattered with parmesan and basil.

For the Pizza preheat an oven to 240C. Roll or stretch the dough into a 30cm circle, place into a large frying pan or a tray, spoon over 1 cup of chilled Bolognese. Top with the mozzarella, some parmesan cheese and bake for 8-10 minutes until golden. Serve scattered with basil and some more parmesan grated over if desired.