Bolognese Sauce
A rich, slow-simmered Italian meat sauce that transforms humble ingredients into a deeply comforting masterpiece.
Ingredients
- •2 tablespoons unsalted butter (30g)
- •2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (30ml)
- •1 medium yellow onion, finely diced (150g)
- •1 medium carrot, finely diced (100g)
- •1 stalk celery, finely diced (75g)
- •1 pound ground beef, 80/20 fat ratio (450g)
- •1/2 pound ground pork (225g)
- •1 cup dry white wine (240ml)
- •1 cup whole milk (240ml)
- •1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- •1 can crushed tomatoes (28 oz / 800g)
- •2 tablespoons tomato paste (30g)
- •Salt, to taste
- •Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- 1
Heat the butter and olive oil in a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat.
- 2
Add the diced onion, carrot, and celery, and sauté gently until soft and translucent, about 10 minutes.
- 3
Add the ground beef and ground pork to the pot, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon.
- 4
Cook the meat until browned and all the juices have evaporated, stirring frequently.
- 5
Pour in the white wine and let it simmer until completely evaporated, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- 6
Add the whole milk and nutmeg, and simmer until the milk has entirely cooked away, which helps tenderize the meat.
- 7
Stir in the tomato paste and crushed tomatoes, reducing the heat to low.
- 8
Season with salt and pepper, then cover the pot partially and let the sauce simmer on very low heat for at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally and adding a splash of water if it gets too thick.
- 9
Taste and adjust seasoning before tossing with your favorite pasta.
💡 Chef tips
- Do not rush the milk and wine reduction steps; they are traditional secrets to cutting the acidity and building depth.
- Bolognese sauce actually tastes better the next day, making it a fantastic make-ahead dish.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
✅ How it should turn out
The finished sauce should be thick, glossy, and cling to a spoon, boasting a savory, deeply comforting aroma with a subtle hint of nutmeg and sweet tomato.