Description
Make this rich, hearty Bolognese sauce that tastes like it simmered all day, but is simple enough for your busy weeknights. This authentic Italian meat sauce is a family favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 recommended)
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, finely chopped
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup dry red wine (optional, substitute with beef broth)
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 pound pasta (tagliatelle or spaghetti recommended)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
- Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Sauté for 8 to 10 minutes until the vegetables soften.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- If using, pour in the red wine and let it simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot, until the wine has mostly evaporated, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, oregano, basil, and bay leaf. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot partially, and let the bolognese sauce simmer for at least 45 minutes, or up to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. The longer it simmers, the richer the flavor.
- About 15 minutes before serving, cook your pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining.
- Remove the bay leaf from the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Toss the drained pasta with the rich and hearty beef sauce. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if the sauce seems too thick. Serve immediately for a comforting dinner.
Notes
- For a deeper flavor, substitute half the ground beef with ground pork or veal.
- If you are making this ahead of time, this homemade bolognese freezes beautifully for quick weeknight meals later.
- This rich tomato meat sauce works perfectly layered in lasagna or baked ziti.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 60 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups sauce + 2 oz dry pasta
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 9
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Unsaturated Fat: 11
- Trans Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 6
- Protein: 30
- Cholesterol: 75