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+ servings

Classic Bolognese Sauce

A rich, slow-simmered Italian meat sauce made with beef, pork, vegetables, and a touch of milk. Perfect over pasta for a cozy family dinner.
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time:1 hour 40 minutes

Equipment

  • 1 12-inch cast iron pan or Dutch oven with a lid
  • 1 Wooden spoon

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 medium carrots, finely diced
  • 2 stalks celery, finely diced
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • ½ pound ground pork
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 28 ounces crushed tomatoes 1 large can
  • 1-2 bay leaves
  • 1 Parmesan rind optional, adds flavor
  • 1 pinch nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper or to taste

Instructions

  • Cook veggies. Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery; cook 5–7 minutes until softened.
  • Brown meat. Increase heat to medium-high. Add beef and pork; cook 8–10 minutes until browned, breaking up meat. Drain extra grease if needed.
  • Add tomato paste and wine. Stir in tomato paste and cook 1–2 minutes. Pour in wine, scraping the pan; simmer 2–3 minutes until reduced by half.
  • Add milk. Lower heat. Stir in milk; cook about 5 minutes until mostly absorbed.
  • Add crushed tomatoes and seasoning. Add tomatoes, bay leaves, Parmesan rind, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Stir well.
  • Simmer. Cover and simmer gently on low for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
  • Thicken Uncover and simmer 15–20 minutes more until thickened. Remove bay leaves and Parmesan rind before serving.

Notes

Serve over tagliatelle, pappardelle, or your favorite pasta. This sauce also freezes well for up to 3 months.
Nutritional info is based on 4 servings and does not include pasta.
I recommend buying a white wine you'd like to drink the rest of because you won't use a lot of it. 

Nutrition

Calories: 614kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 125mg | Sodium: 1076mg | Potassium: 1467mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 5840IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 200mg | Iron: 6mg
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 614kcal
Author: Katie Shaw