Classic Ragù Bolognese – Ragù alla bolognese
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 3 hours
Total time: 3 hours and 30 min
$6-8 total*
4-6 people
Ingredients
- 1 small onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
- 1 carrot, peeled, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
- 1 celery stalk, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
- 1 garlic clove, peeled and pressed
- 11 oz ground beef (73% lean)
- 5 oz ground pork or 1 sausage link (without any flavor or spice) or finely chopped pancetta
- 1 can tomato sauce (14.5 oz), no salt added
- 1/4 cup dry red or white wine
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tbsp salt and freshly ground black pepper
-
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Preparation
Wash and dice the onion and the celery stalk. Peel, wash and dice the carrot.
In a large dutch oven or heavy pot, heat the oil over low-medium heat. Add the diced onions, celery and carrot. After 2 minutes add the garlic clove after having pressed it with your hand on a hard surface and having removed the germ (that is the sprout in the center of the garlic).
Sauté for 5 extra minutes stirring with a wooden spoon.
Remove the garlic and add the beef and the pork. Slightly increase the heat and sauté for 10-12 minutes, breaking up the meat with the wooden spoon. Add the wine and let it evaporate for 2 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, milk, salt and pepper. Stir to blend.
Let the ragù simmer for 3 hours (2 would be the minimum) at a very low heat. Stir every 30 minutes and add water if too dry.
Tips & notes
- Store the ragù in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Use the sauce with pasta, even better if fresh pasta!
- Adding the milk is optional. If you don’t want to use it, substitute it with an equivalent amount of broth.
- If you want to make the sauce even creamier, substitute half of the milk with heavy cream.
- Remember to remove the garlic! It is not present in the original recipe, but I add it just a few minutes in the “soffritto” to add some of its flavor.
- Another option to make the sauce lighter is to use a 80% lean ground beef.
* Price range estimated from local markets and supermarkets (it can change according to season, location and product quality)
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