Tasty Recipe for Spaghetti Bolognese
Bolognese sauce is a meat-based red sauce originating in the Bologna region of Italy and is one of the most flexible of all Italian sauces.
Every cook should have a good Bolognese sauce recipe in their arsenal of delicious recipes.
This rich & flavorful sauce goes well with broad, flat styles of pasta, and the slow cooking process creates a hearty, deep flavor that just can’t be matched by pre-made sauces.
Here is a slightly simplified version of this classic staple of Italian cuisine. Enjoy!
Delicious Recipe for Pasta Bolognese
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (substitute ½ pound of beef for ground veal for a more authentic flavor)
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion (chopped)
- 1 medium carrot (chopped)
- 1 celery stalk (chopped)
- 5 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup dry red wine
- 2 cans of whole peeled tomatoes (chopped)
- ½ cup tomato paste
- 1 cup beef or chicken broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ tablespoon red pepper flakes
- 1 pound of pasta of choice
- Heating the olive oil over medium high heat in a large skillet or saucepan until it begins to shimmer.
- Add the onion, celery, carrot and garlic. Sauté until the vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes.
- Add the ground beef and cook until it browns, mixing it and breaking it up to ensure even cooking.
- Add the red wine along with all of the herbs, and simmer until the liquid has reduced by about half.
- When the liquid has reduced, add the tomatoes, tomato paste, and broth. Bring the sauce to a slow rolling boil and cover. Let it simmer for at least 45 minutes.
- For a richer, deeper flavor, reduce the heat slightly and let the sauce simmer for up to three hours.
- Start your pasta about 20 minutes before your sauce is finished cooking.
The most common pastas served with Bolognese sauce are tagliatelle, fettuccine, lasagna, rigatoni, or penne.
There are countless regional varieties and family recipes dating all the way back to the 18th century. So as you can see, there is plenty of room for experimentation.
Many people substitute the ground beef for ground pork, or add pancetta to the mix. While the original versions of Bolognese sauce did not include herbs as seasoning, most modern takes on the dish do.
For the sake of simplicity, a pre-mixed Italian seasoning can be substituted for the dried herbs without harming the deep flavors this sauce is known for.
What wine to serve with Spaghetti Bolognese? Try a good Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet or Zinfandel.
