Description
A classic Italian Bolognese sauce made with a rich blend of ground beef and pork, simmered with aromatic vegetables, tomatoes, wine, and milk. Perfectly paired with your favorite pasta and topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, this hearty sauce delivers comforting flavors ideal for a satisfying main course.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 medium carrots, finely chopped
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Meat
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork
Liquids & Other
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
To Serve
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Cooked pasta of choice
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are softened and aromatic.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute to release its flavor without burning.
- Brown the Meat: Add the ground beef and ground pork to the pot, breaking them apart with a spoon. Cook until the meat is browned through, ensuring even cooking and developing rich flavor.
- Season and Tomato Paste: Season the meat with salt and black pepper. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes to deepen the sauce’s flavor and caramelize the paste slightly.
- Simmer with Milk: Pour in the whole milk and let it simmer gently over medium-low heat until it is mostly absorbed by the meat mixture, adding creaminess to the sauce.
- Add Wine and Reduce: Pour in the dry white wine and cook until it reduces by half, concentrating its flavor.
- Combine Tomatoes and Herbs: Stir in the crushed tomatoes, bay leaves, dried oregano, dried basil, and ground nutmeg. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
- Long Simmer: Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer uncovered for at least 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and allow flavors to meld beautifully.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the bay leaves before serving. Serve the Bolognese sauce over hot cooked pasta and top generously with freshly grated Parmesan cheese for an authentic Italian meal.
Notes
- The sauce’s flavor deepens the longer it simmers, so cooking it up to 3 hours on very low heat is recommended for best results.
- For a lighter version, use only ground beef or substitute ground turkey instead of pork.
- Leftovers freeze exceptionally well and make for convenient future meals.
- To keep the dish gluten-free, serve with gluten-free pasta.
