**Ragu alla Bolognese: A Classic Italian Meat Sauce with Variations**
Ragu alla Bolognese, also known as Bolognese sauce or simply Bolognese, is a hearty and flavorful Italian meat sauce that originated in the city of Bologna, Italy. It is traditionally made with ground beef, pork, and pancetta, simmered in a rich tomato sauce with red wine, milk, and vegetables such as carrots, celery, and onions. The sauce is typically served with tagliatelle or pappardelle pasta, but it can also be used in other dishes such as lasagna and polenta. In this article, we'll share America's Test Kitchen's version of Ragu alla Bolognese, along with several variations to suit different tastes and preferences. From a classic Bolognese to a vegetarian version and a slow-cooker adaptation, we've got you covered. So, get ready to indulge in the deliciousness of this iconic Italian dish.
AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN RAGU ALLA BOLOGNESE
I want to try this. It looks like an umami explosion. Pass the Parm. This recipe makes enough sauce to coat 2 pounds of pasta. Leftover sauce may be refrigerated for up to three days or frozen for up to one month. Eight teaspoons of gelatin is equivalent to one (1-ounce) box of gelatin. If you can't find ground veal, use an additional ¾ pound of ground beef. Source: America's Test Kitchen Season 13: Ultimate Italian
Provided by College Girl
Categories Sauces
Time 45m
Yield 6 cups, 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Combine chicken broth and beef broth in bowl; sprinkle gelatin over top and set aside. Pulse onion, carrot, and celery in food processor until finely chopped, about 10 pulses, scraping down bowl as needed; transfer to separate bowl. Pulse pancetta and mortadella in now-empty food processor until finely chopped, about 25 pulses, scraping down bowl as needed; transfer to second bowl. Process chicken livers in now-empty food processor until pureed, about 5 seconds; transfer to third bowl.
- Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add beef, veal, and pork; cook, breaking up pieces with spoon, until all liquid has evaporated and meat begins to sizzle, 10 to 15 minutes. Add chopped pancetta mixture and sage; cook, stirring frequently, until pancetta is translucent, 5 to 7 minutes, adjusting heat to keep fond from burning. Add chopped vegetables and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until rust-colored and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in wine, scraping pan with wooden spoon to loosen fond. Simmer until sauce has thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in broth mixture and return to simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook at bare simmer until thickened (wooden spoon should leave trail when dragged through sauce), about 1½ hours.
- Stir in pureed chicken livers, bring to boil, and remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste; cover and keep warm.
- Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Reserve ¾ cup cooking water, then drain pasta and return it to pot. Add half of sauce and cooking water to pasta and toss to combine. Transfer to serving bowl and serve, passing cheese separately.
- TECHNIQUE - BUILDING A MEATY, SATINY-TEXTURED BOLOGNESE: 1. COOK the ground meats; add depth by sautéing the chopped mortadella, pancetta, and sage in the rendered fat. 2. ADD the soffritto and sweat it until softened and then add concentrated tomato flavor in the form of tomato paste. 3. DEGLAZE the pot with wine; stir in the broth plus the bloomed gelatin to develop luxurious silky texture. 4. STIR in the pureed chicken livers for subtle but rich taste.
RAGU ALLA BOLOGNESE
Steps:
- In a large, deep saute pan, heat olive oil over high heat and add carrots, celery, onions, and pancetta and cook, stirring, until vegetables are lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Add the beef and cook another 2 minutes. Add pork and cook until meat is lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
- Whisk together the tomato paste and 1 cup of the broth, and add it to meat. Place pan over low heat so that sauce just barely simmers. When broth has evaporated, add another cup. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally and adding a cup of broth when stew becomes dry, until all the broth has been added, about 3 hours.
- Add milk and butter, and continue to simmer very gently until milk has reduced and sauce is very thick, about 2 minutes. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper, and serve over tagliatelle or pappardelle with Parmigiano-Reggiano.
- Put all the ingredients in a pot and cover with water. Cook on low; it should boil after about 1 hour. Lower the heat to a low boil. Cook 3 more hours after it has started to boil. Pour the broth through a sieve and refrigerate. The next morning, take off all the fat. You should be left with about 2 quarts of broth. The meat can be served as a bollito with salsa verde.
RAGU BOLOGNESE
this is one of our favorite meat sauces although it is a bit of work. this works well with campanelle or penne to catch the sauce
Provided by chia2160
Categories Veal
Time 3h20m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- in a large heavy pot heat oil and butter.
- add onions, celery, carrots, garlic and cook until vegetables are translucent.
- add the meats and stir, cooking until no longer pink 10-15 minutes.
- drain excess fat from pan and return to heat.
- add milk and cook until almost dry, about 10 minutes.
- add tomatoes and herbs and simmer about 15 minutes.
- add wine and broth, bring to a boil.
- lower to simmer, and cook partially covered for 2 1/2 hrs, stirring every 30 minutes.
- season with salt and pepper to taste.
Tips:
- Use a variety of meats. This will give your ragu a more complex flavor. Beef, pork, and veal are all traditional meats for ragu, but you can also use lamb or venison.
- Brown the meat well. This will help to develop the flavor of the ragu. Be sure to brown the meat in batches so that it doesn't steam.
- Use a good quality canned tomato. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your ragu. Look for tomatoes that are packed in tomato juice, not water.
- Simmer the ragu for a long time. This will allow the flavors to meld and develop. Simmer the ragu for at least 2 hours, but longer is better.
- Season the ragu to taste. Add salt, pepper, and other spices to taste. You can also add a splash of red wine or balsamic vinegar for a little extra flavor.
Conclusion:
Ragu alla Bolognese is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a special occasion. It is also a great way to use up leftover meat. With a little planning and effort, you can make a ragu that will impress your family and friends.
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