Bolognese Maralal-style

Spaghetti is one of the simplest meals one can prepare. Just add them into boiling water and voila, your meal is ready. But one can break the monotony of preparing it the same way every day.

I met Chef Nicholas Dida during my trip to Maralal and he showed me a different way of making the dish.

The chef based at Maralal Safari Lodge prepared spaghetti bolognese, which is named after its region of origin – Bologna in Italy.

It is basically spaghetti with minced meat, but the meat stew has more tomatoes than usual.

As he starts preparing the meal, Nicholas tells me he began cooking three years ago while working at the lodge’s bar.

The manager encouraged him to begin cooking and the first meal he prepared was fried chicken and chips.

When it came out right, he began checking out recipe books and trying out new dishes, which worked out.

“That is how I began my cooking career,” he says as he places the spaghetti in the boiling water. The meal is a signature dish here.

To polish his skills, Nicholas reads cookbooks and researches online on the latest recipes. The restaurant serves continental dishes but in most instances, the guests’ preferences are paramount.

He likes working in a clean kitchen and is glad that their kitchen at the lodge is well equipped with modern equipment.

INGREDIENTS

250g beef minced meat

1 onion chopped

Ground garlic

2 medium-sized carrots chopped

2 medium-sized green pepper chopped

1 packet spaghetti

1 tablespoon oregano

1 tablespoon mixed herbs 

1 tablespoon cumin powder

30g tomato paste

30g butter

Vegetable oil

Salt

Coriander leaves to garnish

METHOD 

Put one and a half litres of water in a medium-sized cooking pot and bring to a boil.

When the water is boiled, add 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon of salt and the pasta.

Let it cook for 5-7 minutes and pour the pasta into a strainer to drain the water, then rinse with cold water to cool the pasta and set aside.

Put a quarter cup of vegetable oil into a cooking pot and add the chopped onion and garlic then stir continuously for 2-3 minutes.

Add the tomato paste, oregano, mixed herbs and cumin powder and stir.

Put in the minced meat and salt and let it cook for about 15-20 minutes.

In a big pan, put 30 grams of butter, the chopped carrots and green pepper and fry for 2 minutes. Add the cooled pasta and stir.

Serve the spaghetti with minced beef on top and garnish with coriander leaves.