Bolognese Sauce (The Best)
This famous Northern Italian dish, a.k.a. ragù alla Bolognese, is what pasta dreams are made of. While there are many interpretations, ours stays true to its regional roots with a trifecta of ground meat, a touch of tomato paste and a splash of milk for good measure.
Ingredients
- 1 onion, cut into pieces
- 1 stalk celery, cut into pieces
- 2 carrots, cut into pieces
- 2 cloves garlic, cut into pieces
- 4 oz (115 g) mild pancetta, cut into small pieces
- 1 oz (30 g) mortadella, cut into small pieces
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 lb (454 g) medium lean ground beef
- ½ lb (225 g) lean ground veal
- ½ lb (225 g) lean ground pork
- ½ cup (125 ml) red wine
- 1/3 cup (75 ml) tomato paste
- 2 cups (500 ml) chicken broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tsp chopped fresh herbs (sage, marjoram or thyme)
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- ½ cup (125 ml) milk
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- In a food processor, finely chop the vegetables. Set aside on a plate.
- In the food processor, finely chop the pancetta and mortadella. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan over high heat, soften the vegetables in the butter for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the pancetta, mortadella and ground meats. Cook the meat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, and stir occasionally until the cooking juices have evaporated and the meat has browned.
- Deglaze with the wine and reduce until almost dry. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add the broth, bay leaves, herbs and pepper flakes. Cover and let simmer over medium-low heat for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
- Add the milk. Continue cooking, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Adjust the seasoning.
This famous Northern Italian dish, a.k.a. ragù alla Bolognese, is what pasta dreams are made of. While there are many interpretations, ours stays true to its regional roots with a trifecta of ground meat, a touch of tomato paste and a splash of milk for good measure.