Description
Bolognese Sauce is the ultimate comfort food, offering a rich, hearty, and flavorful experience that’s perfect for any pasta dish. Whether you’re looking for an authentic Italian Bolognese or a quick version using ground beef, this guide will help you create a delicious sauce for any occasion. From traditional recipes to vegetarian and weeknight-friendly variations, Bolognese sauce is a must-have in your culinary repertoire.
Ingredients
Scale
Traditional Bolognese Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, finely diced
- 2 celery stalks, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb ground beef (or beef and pork mix)
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 cup dry white wine (or red wine)
- 2 (14.5 oz) cans crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley or basil for garnish
- 1 lb pasta (tagliatelle, pappardelle, or fettuccine)
Vegetarian Bolognese (Lentil & Mushroom):
- 1 cup lentils (brown or green)
- 1 cup mushrooms, finely chopped
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup whole milk (or coconut milk for dairy-free)
Quick Ground Beef Bolognese:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup dry red wine
- 1 (14.5 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Traditional Bolognese Sauce:
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5–7 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add ground beef (or beef and pork mix) to the pot. Break it up with a wooden spoon and cook until browned, about 10 minutes.
- Pour in the whole milk, stirring well. Cook for 5 minutes, allowing the milk to mostly absorb.
- Deglaze with wine, cooking for 3-5 minutes until the alcohol evaporates.
- Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes (optional). Bring to a simmer and cook for 1-1.5 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve over freshly cooked pasta, garnished with fresh herbs.
Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce:
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5–7 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add chopped mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in lentils and cook for 3 minutes.
- Pour in the milk and vegetable broth. Cook for 5–10 minutes, allowing the lentils to absorb some liquid.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, and basil. Simmer for 30–40 minutes, until lentils are tender and the sauce thickens.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve over pasta and garnish with fresh herbs.
Quick Ground Beef Bolognese:
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat.
- Add chopped onion and garlic. Cook for 3–5 minutes until softened.
- Deglaze with red wine, cooking for 2 minutes. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10–15 minutes.
- Serve over pasta.
Notes
- Tips: For a richer flavor, simmer the sauce for several hours. The longer it cooks, the more the flavors meld.
- Use fresh pasta: Fresh pasta pairs wonderfully with Bolognese sauce, providing a tender texture to complement the rich sauce.
- Variations: Try different herbs like thyme, or add a splash of cream for a richer Bolognese sauce.
- Meat-Free Version: Use lentils and mushrooms for a hearty, plant-based Bolognese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Simmered
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: Bolognese Sauce, Italian Ragu, Meat Sauce, Pasta Sauce, Quick Bolognese