Classic Bolognese Sauce

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ByFrancesca

Learn to prepare this savory classic Bolognese sauce. Perfect to prepare a delicious lasagna on a cozy sunday meal with your family!

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Italian Name: Ragù alla bolognese [raˈgu ˈalla boloɲˈɲese]

Bolognese sauce is originally from Bologna, a city in the North of Italy, and is characterized by: minced meat, tomato sauce, and a long cooking time. So, you can take advantage of a rainy morning to stay at home and prepare this recipe: its amazing smell will spread throughout your house – better than any air freshener!

This recipe is very easy to adapt to different tastes, and for this reason, almost every family has its own version. Some add bacon, others prosciutto, others sausage.

Actually, there is an officially registered recipe that lists the original ingredients, the possible variations and what is forbidden. That’s how much Italians are obsessed with food!

Since it takes so long for a savory Bolognese sauce to come to life, let’s get started!

Why It’s Worth a Spot on Your Table

Now this is an absolute Italian classic! Bolognese sauce, or ragù in Italy, has a lot of versions. Basically, every family has its recipe, and you can adjust the one I will be sharing with you to your liking.

This recipe is easy to prepare, even if it needs to be cooked slowly and for a long time. Trust me, it will be worth the wait! Moreover, if you like to meal-prep, this sauce can be freezed for up to 3 months, so that you can enjoy a cozy and warm meal every time you want.

You can enjoy this authentic Bolognese sauce with pasta or in a delicious lasagna!

If you are vegan or vegetarian but still want to enjoy a sauce with a similar texture, have a look at the recipe of the vegan mushroom pasta!

Ingredients

Ingredients to season 4 servings of pasta

  • ½ large onion 
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 celery stick
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • ⅔ cup white wine (150 ml)
  • 1 lb 500 gr minced beef (500 gr)
  • 3.5 oz sausage (optional) (100 gr)
  • 2 cups tomato sauce (500 ml)
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • ⅓ cup milk (100 ml)
  • 1 cup of water (if needed)
  • Salt

Cooking time: 20 minutes + 3 hours simmering

As I mentioned, this recipe is highly flexible. You can add different ingredients like other meats, sausage, or bacon or ham. If you want to give it an extra kick you can add some peas or a handful of dried mushrooms to it.

Some people like to add some bay leaves or rosemary to the recipe, but the traditional recipe doesn’t include herbs or garlic. Still, feel free to make it your own—I’m an open-minded Italian!

Meat
I will be using beef meat and a piece of sausage to prepare this bolognese sauce. However, if you are feeling like it you can:

  • Use only minced beef
  • Use unsmoked bacon or prosciutto instead of the sausage
  • Mix beef and pork (350 gr beef, 150 gr pork)

Water
Bolognese sauce needs a lot of cooking time, so I usually add water to prevent it from drying out or sticking to the pot, especially if using it for lasagna. Moreover, I don’t want to risk it sticking to the pot. Wheather you will need to add water or not will depend on the tickness of the tomato sauce you will use.

Tips

  • The classic bolognese sauce requires patience, but don’t worry: you won’t have to stand and stir for 3 hours. After preparing everything, you can just set an alarm every 15/20 minutes to remember to mix it until the sauce will be ready.
  • If you’re using it for lasagna, make sure the sauce isn’t too thick, or the pasta will dry out.
  • If you are vegan or vegetarian but still want to enjoy a sauce with a similar texture, have a look at the recipe of the vegan mushroom pasta

Step by Step Recipe

  • Clean and carefully chop the onion, celery and carrot and put them in a pot with enough extra virgin olive oil and let them become golden. In the meantime, remove the casing from your sausage and chop it.
    Tip! Soak the sausage in warm water for easier peeling.
  • When the vegetables are golden add the minced meat and the sausage and make sure that the meat will separate well, and create very small pieces.
  • When the meat is a bit cooked (you should not see pink parts), add the wine and wait for the alcohol to evaporate.
  • Once you will not be able to smell the alcohol anymore add to the pot the tomato paste, the tomato sauce and the milk and mix it well. If your tomato sauce is very thick, add some water too.
  • When the sauce comes to a boil, lower the power of the stove, cover the pot with the lid and let it cook on low.
  • And now, we wait.
  • 2,30-3 hours is a long time: set an alarm to stir your Bolognese sauce every 15/20 minutes and binge on your favorite series, work, study, exercise, read in the meantime.
  • Add salt during the last hour, and remember: you can always add more later, but you can’t remove it.
  • After three hours, when your house will smell like heaven, your classic bolognese sauce will be ready to be enjoyed with your favorite pasta!

Recipe Card

Classic Bolognese Sauce

Bolognese sauce is originally from Bologna, a city in the North of Italy, and is characterized by: minced meat, tomato sauce, and very long cooking time. So, you can take advantage of a rainy morning to stay at home and prepare this recipe: its amazing smell will spread throughout your house – much better than any air freshener!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 big onion
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 celery stick
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • ⅔ cup white wine (150 ml)
  • 1 lb minced beef (500 gr)
  • 3.5 oz sausage (optional) (100 gr)
  • 2 cups tomato sauce (500 ml)
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • ⅓ cup milk (100 ml)
  • 1 cup water (optional) (200 ml)

Instructions
 

  • Clean and carefully chop the onion, celery and carrot and put them in a pot with enough extra virgin olive oil and let them become golden. In the meantime, remove the casing from your sausage and chop it.
  • When the vegetables are golden add the minced meat and the sausage and make sure that the meat separates well, and create very small pieces.
  • Once the meat is a bit cooked (you should not see pink parts), add the wine and wait for the alcohol to evaporate.
  • Add the tomato paste, the tomato sauce and the milk and mix it well. If your tomato sauce is very thick, add some water too.
  • When the sauce comes to a boil, lower the power of the stove, cover the pot with the lid and let it cook on low.
  • Set an alarm to mix your bolognese sauce every 15/20 minutes and cook it for 2,5/3 hours.
  • Add salt during the last hour, and be careful not to oversalt!
  • Enjoy the bolognese sauce with your favorite pasta!
Keyword Bolognese, Classic, Italian, Lasagna, Meat, Pasta

FAQs

Suggestions on pasta?
Bolognese sauce is perfect for lasagna, but you can enjoy it with many pasta types like tortiglioni, paccheri, fusilli or tagliatelle. These pasta shapes will hold the sauce better.

Can I freeze Bolognese sauce?
Absolutely! You can store it in the fridge for a couple of days,or freeze up to three months. Be sure to prepare a lot of bolognese sauce and freeze it: you’ll have a delicious and authentic Italian meal ready to go anytime!

Did I forget something? Don’t be shy and ask in the comments!

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