Best Bolognese Sauce
User Reviews
4.9
Best Bolognese Sauce
Description
Starting with browned ground beef, pork, pancetta, and chopped fresh mushrooms, this Bolognese develops a robust flavor foundation. After draining excess fat, a soffritto of onion, celery, and carrots is gently caramelized before adding garlic. White wine deglazes the pan, imparting brightness. The meat and mushroom mixture returns to the pan with crushed tomatoes, tomato puree, milk, bay leaves, and fresh thyme, then simmers slowly to meld flavors and tenderize the meat.
The sauce's texture thickens with long cooking, balancing meatiness with the umami of porcini and fresh mushrooms. Fresh parsley and Parmesan provide finishing touches. Serving with tagliatelle pasta is traditional, allowing the sauce to cling to broad pasta ribbons and showcase its richness.
White wine is the traditional choice here for deglazing, but substituting chicken or beef stock is an alternative if avoiding alcohol. Slow simmering develops the characteristic complexity associated with Bolognese.
White wine is traditional; you may substitute chicken or beef stock if preferred.
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork
- 6 ounces pancetta finely chopped
- 12 ounces cremini mushroom chopped
- 1 ounces dried porcini mushroom rehydrated in warm water for 30 minutes, then dried and chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 yellow onion chopped, medium
- 2 carrot chopped
- 2 celery chopped, stalks
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup white wine
- 2 crushed tomatoes 28 ounce cans
- 1 tomato puree 28 ounce can
- 2 cups milk
- 2 bay leaf
- 1 thyme fresh bunch
- parsley chopped, flat-leaf, Italian
- Parmesan Cheese
- Tagliatelle pasta if available, fresh
Instructions
- Heat a large dutch oven or heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, and add 1 tablespoon of the oil. When hot, add the ground beef, ground pork, pancetta and chopped mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper. Brown, breaking up the meat and cooking until the mushrooms are cooked and the meat is no longer pink. Transfer the meat to a separate bowl and drain the grease from the pan.
- To make the soffritto, reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the dutch oven. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and mix together, cooking until the vegetables are soft begin to caramelize, about 10-15 minutes.
- Add the garlic to the vegetables and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
- Add the wine to the soffritto and cook for 3 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan, until slightly reduced.
- Return the browned mushrooms and meat to the pan, then add in the crushed tomatoes, tomatoe puree, milk, bay leaves and thyme. Stir to combine, then bring to a simmer. Reduce meat to low and partially cover the dutch oven with a lid. Simmer for 4 hours, stirring frequently.
- When the sauce has thickened, remove the bay leaves and thyme sprigs, then taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt if needed.
- When the sauce is ready, bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with salt. Add the fresh pasta and cook for just 2–3 minutes. Drain the pasta, then return to the pan and toss with however much bolognese sauce you would like. Remaining sauce freezes and reheats well and can be used in lasagna bolognese. Garnished with chopped Italian parsley and Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Traditional white wine can be substituted with chicken or beef stock for cooking.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 12cups
Amount Per Serving
Calories 407 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 407kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 24g | 8% |
| Protein | 20g | 40% |
| Fat | 25g | 38% |
| Saturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 67mg | 22% |
| Sodium | 459mg | 19% |
| Potassium | 1202mg | 26% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 13g | 26% |
| Vitamin A | 2403IU | 48% |
| Vitamin C | 21mg | 23% |
| Calcium | 132mg | 13% |
| Iron | 4mg | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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