Description
Ina Garten’s Bolognese Sauce is a traditional Italian meat sauce made with a mixture of ground beef and pork, slowly cooked with onions, carrots, celery, and tomatoes. The sauce is enriched with a splash of red wine and finished with a touch of cream, creating a velvety, hearty sauce that’s perfect for pasta. Unlike a quick marinara, Bolognese requires time to simmer, allowing the flavors to meld together into a delicious, savory sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 pound of ground beef
- 1 pound of ground turkey pork
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 cup of dry red wine
- 1 can (28 ounces) of crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
- 1 cup of whole milk or heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon of dried basil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Pasta of your choice (such as tagliatelle, pappardelle, or fettuccine)
Instructions
- Sauté the Vegetables: In a large Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery, and cook until the vegetables are softened, about 8-10 minutes.
- Brown the Meats: Add the ground beef and pork to the pot, breaking them up with a wooden spoon. Cook until the meat is browned and fully cooked, about 10 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
- Add Garlic and Tomato Paste: Stir in the minced garlic and tomato paste, cooking for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Deglaze with Wine: Pour in the red wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Let the wine simmer until it’s reduced by half.
- Incorporate Tomatoes: Add the crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Simmer: Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer uncovered for 1 to 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally. The sauce should thicken and develop deep flavors.
- Finish with Cream: Stir in the milk or heavy cream and let the sauce simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
- Cook the Pasta: While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Serve: Toss the cooked pasta with the Bolognese sauce, garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped basil or parsley, and serve immediately.