A simple meat sauce with a tomato base that goes great with pasta is bolognese sauce.
In this recipe, onion, garlic, seasonings, and beef and pork are mixed and simmered until thick and delicious. This dinner is ideal for a busy weekday because it freezes and reheats well.
Anyone who has ever had pasta with homemade meat sauce will agree. It has a unique flavor of home that you simply cannot get from a jar. Homemade is always preferable, whether it’s a classic marinara or this Bolognese sauce!
Bolognese: What Is It?
Have you ever wondered what sets Bolognese apart from other pasta sauces? Although it has a tomato basis and is cooked with garlic and onion, it also has celery, carrot, and a little amount of milk.
These ingredients may seem strange, but they add a unique flavor, some richness, and some sweetness.
This sauce is fantastic over pasta, but it’s also a favorite when added to baked casseroles like ziti or homemade lasagna!
Components & Alterations
Food: Bolognese Sauce (Source: Cooking Classy)Vegetables: The usual celery, onions, and carrots ought to be included in this recipe.
I want to keep things basic and stick to those two. Other vegetables can be used if you’d like, just finely chop them first.
Meat: Ground beef and ground pork together offer incredible taste, but if you like, you can make it with just ground beef.
Another tasty additive is ground veal.
Tomatoes: We usually use whole canned tomatoes instead of diced ones because they have a firmer consistency.
If you just have canned chopped or crushed tomatoes, those will also work although the consistency may change slightly.
A dry red wine is excellent (but any red will do). Usually, I drink merlot or cabernet. Wine gives this sauce a lot of depth (and the alcohol evaporates).
If you can’t use wine, you can substitute a little beef broth, but the flavor will change a little.
An odd but common component of a true bolognese sauce is milk.
Making Bolognese Sauce
Although it takes some time, making bolognese is extremely simple. This recipe just simmers till it thickens when the preparation is finished.
- Cook Veggies & Meat: Brown the meat and chopped vegetables, then pour off any excess grease.
- Pour in the wine or milk and let it simmer. The milk should then be added and simmered as well.
- Simmer: Include the rest of the ingredients (as directed in the recipe below) and let it simmer until thick.
Cook the pasta per the package instructions while the sauce simmers. Serve and savor after adding parmesan and salt and pepper.
Which Dishes Go With It
Any kind of long pasta would work well with this bolognese, but I prefer to serve it over pappardelle or tagliatelle. This sauce would go well with gluten-free pasta if you wanted to serve it. Check your spices and other ingredients, just in case.
Similar sides should be served with this dish as you would with spaghetti and meatballs.
BREAD A must-have is handmade garlic bread! For the BEST homemade garlic butter, try this recipe.
SALAD Any night of the week, complete an Italian feast with a simple tossed salad or Italian salad.
What about dessert? Why not prepare this delectable tiramisu? Such a treat!
How to Keep Bolognese Sauce Fresh
Making this pasta sauce ahead of time allows the flavors of the tomatoes and spices to “meld and marry” and develop even more flavor while they sit (like a chili recipe).
The FDA recommends keeping leftover beef dishes in the refrigerator for 4 days. Next, freeze them for two to three months.
- Simply use an airtight container or completely enclose a dish in plastic wrap to store food in the refrigerator.
- Leave about an inch for expansion before freezing, and then tightly cover. Or you might use a freezer bag with a zipper that is securely closed.
- Simply defrost, prepare on the stovetop or in the microwave, stirring every 15 to 20 seconds until steaming hot and ready to eat, and the process is simple to repeat!
This Bolognese recipe will undoubtedly become a go-to, delicious staple sauce for lasagna, pasta, and even homemade pizza. It is excellent!
Bolognese Sauce (Pappardelle)
The classic components of spaghetti bolognese are blended with a rich tomato-based meat sauce made with beef and pork to create a tasty midweek supper that you can prepare quickly.
| 20 minutes preparation
cook for one hour 1 hour 20 minutes overall Servings: Six portions |
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion finely diced
- 1 carrot finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 rib celery finely diced
- 1 pound of ground beef
- ½ pound ground pork
- 1 ¼ cup red wine or beef broth
- 1 cup whole milk
- 28 ounces whole tomatoes with juice
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- pappardelle or tagliatelle or another long pasta for serving
Instructions
Food: Bolognese Sauce (Source: Cooking Classy)- For about 3 to 4 minutes, over medium heat, cook onion in oil until it begins to soften. Add the celery, carrot, and garlic. Cook for a further 5 minutes, or until softened.
- Add pork and beef. until no pink is visible. Remove fat. Wine should be added and simmered for 7-9 minutes until evaporated. For about 6-7 minutes, add milk and cook until evaporated.
- Add the bay leaf, tomato paste, Italian spice, and tomatoes with juice. Use a spoon to mash up tomatoes. 30 minutes or until thickened, simmer covered. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook the pasta as directed on the package in the interim. After draining, save 1 1/2 cups of the pasta water.
- Toss pasta with sauce, adjusting with additional pasta water as necessary.
- With parmesan cheese, serve hot.
Notes
Storage Instructions:
- Refrigerator: For up to 4 days, store in an airtight container or wrap with plastic wrap.
- When storing food in the freezer, leave about an inch of space for expansion and keep it there for two to three months.
Defrost in the fridge before reheating. Stir it every 15 to 20 seconds while heating it on the stovetop or in the microwave until well hot.
Nutrition information
Calories: 359 | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 571mg | Potassium: 929mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2112IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 126mg | Iron: 4mg