Description
Hearty Italian Bolognese sauce simmers with rich, slow-cooked ground beef and aromatic herbs, creating a deeply satisfying meal. Pasta nights become extraordinary when this classic sauce from Bologna graces your plate, inviting you to savor authentic Italian comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 1/2 lb (227 g) ground pork
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, finely chopped
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Liquid and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 can (28 oz / 794 g) crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk or cream
- 1 cup (240 ml) red wine
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Sauté diced onions, carrots, and celery in olive oil over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until vegetables soften and become translucent.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, releasing aromatic flavors without burning.
- Introduce ground beef and pork into the pot, vigorously breaking down meat with a wooden spoon until completely browned and no pink remains, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Deglaze the pan with red wine, allowing liquid to reduce and concentrate flavors for 3-5 minutes.
- Incorporate tomato paste and cook briefly to enhance its rich, concentrated taste.
- Pour in crushed tomatoes, milk, bay leaves, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper, mixing ingredients thoroughly.
- Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and let sauce gently simmer for 1.5-2 hours, stirring periodically to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Taste and fine-tune seasoning according to preference, removing bay leaves before final serving.
- Ladle the robust Bolognese sauce over cooked pasta, garnishing with freshly grated Parmesan cheese for an authentic Italian experience.
Notes
- Deepen meat flavor by using a mix of ground beef, pork, and veal for richer complexity.
- Choose high-quality canned San Marzano tomatoes for authentic Italian taste and smooth texture.
- Slow cooking allows ingredients to meld together, developing deeper, more intense flavors throughout the sauce.
- For dairy-free version, replace milk with vegetable broth or additional stock to maintain moisture and richness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 435
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg