Bolognese Sauce Pasta

Here’s a classic recipe for Bolognese Sauce (Ragù alla Bolognese), a rich, flavorful meat sauce from Bologna, Italy. It’s traditionally served with tagliatelle or other wide pasta, but you can also enjoy it with spaghetti or pappardelle.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ lb (225g) ground beef
• ½ lb (225g) ground pork (or ground veal)
• ½ cup pancetta, diced (optional)
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes (or passata)
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
• Parmesan cheese, for serving

Instructions:

1. Heat the oil and butter: In a large pot or deep skillet, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat until melted.

2. Cook the vegetables: Add the chopped onion, carrot, and celery. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft and golden. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.

3. Add the meat: Add the ground beef, ground pork (or veal), and pancetta (if using). Cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until browned and no longer pink. This should take about 8-10 minutes.

4. Deglaze with milk: Pour in the milk and stir to combine. Let it simmer until the milk has mostly evaporated, about 5 minutes. This helps tenderize the meat and enrich the sauce.

5. Add the wine: Pour in the wine and let it simmer until the alcohol evaporates and the liquid reduces, about 10 minutes.

6. Add the tomatoes: Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, bay leaf, and oregano. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to low, cover partially, and let the sauce simmer gently for at least 1 ½ to 2 hours. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. The longer it simmers, the better the flavor.

7. Adjust seasoning: After the sauce has simmered, taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed. Remove the bay leaf.

8. Serve: Serve the Bolognese sauce over your favorite pasta, such as tagliatelle or pappardelle. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.