Spaghetti a la Bolognesa

Spaghetti alla Bolognese is a classic Italian pasta dish featuring a rich, slow-simmered meat sauce, traditionally made with ground beef and pork, tomatoes, onions, carrots, celery, and wine. It originates from Bologna, Italy, where the authentic ragù is often served with wider pasta like tagliatelle rather than spaghetti, which is a popular international adaptation.

🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

This dish is balanced but leans towards being high in carbohydrates from the pasta and moderate in fat and protein from the meat sauce. It provides key nutrients like iron, zinc, and B vitamins from the meat, along with lycopene from the tomatoes, with a typical serving containing around 500-600 calories.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	550 kcal
Protein	25 g
Carbs	65 g
Fat	20 g
Fiber	5 g
Sugar	8 g
Sodium	750 mg
Iron	4 mg
Zinc	5 mg
Potassium	600 mg
Vitamin A	300 mcg
Vitamin C	15 mg
Vitamin B12	2.5 mcg
Selenium	20 mcg
Phosphorus	300 mg

Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

Culturally, the 'Bolognese' served globally is a simplified version of the authentic Ragù alla Bolognese, which is a much meatier, less tomato-heavy sauce. Nutritionally, the combination of tomatoes and meat enhances the absorption of iron and lycopene, making it a more nutrient-dense pairing than either ingredient alone.