Homemade Bolognese Sauce (Pappardelle)
Rich tomato-based meat sauce with beef and pork is combined with all the traditional ingredients of pasta bolognese for a flavorful weeknight meal that can be whipped up in no time!
Prep: 20min
Total: 80min
Yield: 6
Serving Size: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts: calories 359 kcal, Carbohydrate 14 g, Protein 26 g, Fat 18 g, Saturated Fat 6 g, Cholesterol 78 mg, Sodium 571 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 8 g, servingSize 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves (crushed)
- 1 onion (finely diced)
- 1 carrot (finely diced)
- 1 rib celery (finely diced)
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ pound ground pork
- 1 ¼ cups 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 (more to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- pappardelle or tagliatelle (or another long pasta for serving)
Instruction:
- In a large dutch oven, cook onion in oil over medium heat until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add garlic, carrot, and celery, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add beef and pork, and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until no pink remains. Drain fat.
- Add the wine and simmer uncovered until evaporated, about 10 minutes. Add milk and simmer uncovered until evaporated, about 8 minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste, Italian seasoning, tomatoes with juice, and bay leaf. Break tomatoes up with a spoon. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until thickened. Season with salt & pepper to taste.
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 ½ cups of pasta water.
- Toss pasta with sauce, adding pasta water to thin it out if needed.
- Serve hot with parmesan cheese.
How to Make AUTHENTIC BOLOGNESE SAUCE Like a Nonna from Bologna
FAQ
What’s bolognese sauce made of?
Traditionally, bolognese sauce is made with a combination of beef and pork (both ground sausage and pancetta). I’ve seen a few recipes that add veal to the mix and also some that add chicken livers. You can certainly play around and find the combination you love the most.
What is the difference between meat sauce and bolognese?
Bolognese is a specific type of meat sauce originating from Bologna, Italy while meat sauce is a generic term for any sauce with meat in it.
How do you get rich flavor in bolognese?
The best tip for intensifying the flavour of your sauce is just to cook it slowly on a low heat for a long time. This reduces the sauce and intensifies the flavours – four hours is not uncommon for my bolognese.
Why do Italians put milk in bolognese?
According to our Food Director Amira, not only does milk add a rich flavour to the bolognese, but it also helps cut through the acidity of the tomatoes and red wine. It also makes the mince meat nice and tender, creating that melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness.
