Bolognese Sauce

I have tried a few different recipes for Bolognese sauce over the years. I believe that genuine Bolognese sauce does not use any tinned tomatoes but instead uses a large amount of tomato puree and stock. I tried this and it made a beautifully rich dry sauce, but this is not to everyones taste. So I always use tinned tomatoes.

Make sure all your veg is cut very fine so that it will cook quickly. If you wish to hide the fact that it has veg, you could use less and puree the carrot and celery before cooking so that they blend into the sauce. This sauce improves if left overnight and freezes very well. Also, I think that this ragu is normally served with tagliatelle or pappardelle, but I have always had this as Spag Bol and that’s not going to change any time soon! So below is my favourite version of a Bolognese sauce.

Edited to add that I grated some fresh nutmeg into this just before serving, gives it a lovely lift.

Serves 4 – 6

 

Ingredients: 

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 100g diced smoked pancetta, you could use streaky bacon or lardons here if you don’t have pancetta
• 1 medium onion finely diced
• 1 medium carrot finely diced
• 1 stick of celery finely diced
• 2 cloves crushed garlic
• 500g good quality beef mince
• 2 tbsp tomato puree
• Salt & pepper
• 125ml red wine
• 600g tinned chopped tomatoes
• 2 tsp soft dark brown sugar
• 2/3 bay leaves
• 5 tbsp milk
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• Fresh grated nutmeg, approx 1/2 tsp
• 1 teaspoon of dried oregano

Method:

• Using a wide saucepan or shallow casserole dish, heat the oil over a medium heat. (The wide saucepan will brown the beef faster so that it is not stewing in its own juices) Add the bacon and cook until it starts to become crisp.
• Lower the heat and add the diced onions, carrot and celery. Cover and allow the veg to cook slowly for 45 minutes or until the veg is soft.
• Add the tomato puree and garlic and cook for another few minutes.
• Increase the heat and add the beef. You want the beef to brown quite quickly. Make sure you break up the beef as it cooks so that you don’t have any clumps.
• Once the beef is browned, add the red wine and cook until it is reduced and the alcohol is burned off.
• Reduce the heat again, season with salt and pepper, and add the tinned tomatoes and the brown sugar.
• Once the sauce begins to bubble, reduce to a low heat to allow the sauce to simmer. Add the bay leaves, cover and allow it to cook for 2-3 hours.
• Check and stir occasionally to make sure the sauce is not drying out.
• Start adding the milk a tablespoon at a time about an hour from the end of cooking time and mix well.
• After 3 hours you should have a lovely rich, thick ragu. Add the balsamic vinegar, nutmeg and dried oregano. Remove the bay leaves before dishing up. Season with salt and pepper as needed.
• Serve with spaghetti – or pasta of your choice – and a nice green salad.

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