Simple Essential Bolognese

Ingredients 📝 Shopping List

• 2 tablespoons olive oil ➕
• 1 pound ground beef (80/20 is fine, 85/15 is even better) ➕
• 1/2 pound ground pork ➕
• 1 large onion, finely chopped ➕
• 2 carrots, finely chopped ➕
• 2 celery stalks, finely chopped ➕
• 4 cloves garlic, minced ➕
• 1/2 cup dry red wine (like Chianti, Merlot, or Pinot Noir) ➕
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes ➕
• 1 cup whole milk ➕
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano ➕
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme ➕
• Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional) ➕
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste ➕
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving ➕

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat.
2. Add the ground beef and pork. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned. Drain off excess fat.
3. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 8-10 minutes.
4. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
5. Pour in the red wine and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Let the wine simmer and reduce by about half, about 3-5 minutes.
6. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, milk, oregano, thyme, and red pepper flakes (if using).
7. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for at least 1.5 hours, or up to 3 hours, stirring occasionally. The longer it simmers, the richer the flavor.
8. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
9. Serve hot over your favorite pasta, topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Tips & Notes

For an even richer flavor, you can add a bay leaf to the sauce while it simmers and remove it before serving. This sauce freezes beautifully, so feel free to make a double batch.

Source

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