**Classic Italian Bolognese Sauce: A Culinary Journey Through Italy's Beloved Dish**
In the heart of Italy, where culinary traditions are deeply rooted, lies the beloved dish known as Bolognese sauce. This rich, flavorful sauce, originating from the city of Bologna, has captivated taste buds for generations, becoming an integral part of Italian cuisine. Our article delves into the secrets of creating the perfect Bolognese sauce, presenting three unique recipes that showcase the diversity and versatility of this culinary masterpiece. From the traditional meat-based sauce to lighter vegetarian and vegan variations, each recipe offers a distinct experience while staying true to the essence of Bolognese. Embark on a culinary journey through the streets of Bologna, where the flavors of tomatoes, herbs, and slow-cooked meats intertwine to create a symphony of taste. Discover the art of crafting the perfect Bolognese sauce and bring a taste of Italy into your own kitchen.
AUTHENTIC BOLOGNESE SAUCE
Steps:
- Cut the carrot, celery and onion very fine (must not too much that it becomes pulpy when cooked).
- In a medium to large heavy pot add the olive oil and chopped vegetables, cook covered on low heat (stirring occasionally) until onion is transparent.
- Increase the heat to medium and add the ground beef and pork. Stirring as the meat is cooking to break up the pieces. Once the meat has browned turned the heat up to high and add the wine.
- Cook until the alcohol has evaporated (about 20-30 seconds) and the liquid has evaporated. Decrease the heat to medium/low and add the tomato paste, puree, salt, pepper and bay leaf. Gradually decrease the heat to the lowest setting cover and let simmer for three hours (the mixture should not boil). Stir occasionally.
- After the time has passed remove the bay leaf and add the milk, heat thoroughly for a couple of minutes. Serve over cooked pasta. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 335 kcal, Carbohydrate 12 g, Protein 20 g, Fat 23 g, SaturatedFat 8 g, Cholesterol 71 mg, Sodium 341 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 7 g, ServingSize 1 serving
CLASSIC BOLOGNESE
I make many meat-based sauces, or ragu. The original ragu alla Bolognese (meat sauce) dates to the late 19th century and is credited to a cook named Pellegrino Artusi, in 1891. Though it is named for Bologna, Italy, it was first cooked or created in the town of a lesser-known name, Imola, in the region of Emilia-Romagna. Serve this sauce with egg tagliatelle or pappardelle or layer it between egg pasta sheets with bechamel for lasagna alla Bolognese.
Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 3h50m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Heat a large, heavy pot over medium heat. Add EVOO, 2 turns of the pan. Add the butter to the oil in small pieces and when the butter foams, add the onions, carrots, celery, garlic and bay and stir, about 5 minutes. Add pancetta and stir 8 to 10 more minutes to render and crisp. Add about a third of the beef and crumble it with a wooden paddle or spoon, let all of the liquid absorb and let the meat begin to lightly caramelize before adding the next third; repeat. Season the meat with salt, pepper, white pepper and nutmeg. Add white wine, about a quarter to a third of a bottle, then stir and let it absorb into the meat. Scrape up all of the fond or the drippings from the meats and vegetables, being careful not to burn the meat. Add milk, tomatoes and about 1 cup stock, a piece of cheese rind from Parmigiano-Reggiano if you have one, then lower heat to simmer, partially cover and cook the sauce 2 1/2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally and thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Add up to 1 extra cup of stock if needed if sauce gets too thick. The perfect traditional Bolognese should be buttery, uniform and emulsified, the consistency of rich, tender, pourable oatmeal. Remove bay leaf and the rind, if using, from the sauce. Sauce may be made a few days ahead as the longer it sets, the better it gets.
- To serve, cook pasta in salted water 1 minute less than package directions for al dente. Reserve 1 full cup of starchy cooking water, then drain pasta and place back in hot pot.
- Combine pasta with about two-thirds of the sauce, the cooking water and a couple of handfuls of grated cheese, tossing with tongs to combine.
- Serve pasta in shallow bowls with a little torn basil.
BEST EVER BOLOGNESE SAUCE
We take some of the basics of traditional bolognese and then add a few twists to bump up the flavor even further. Layers and layers of flavor mingle together to create a depth and richness that will make your taste buds sing!
Provided by Kimberly Killebrew
Categories Entree Main Course
Time 5h10m
Number Of Ingredients 25
Steps:
- Fry the bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until done (don't drain the bacon grease). Add the butter and the onion, carrot, celery and garlic and cook until softened, 5-7 minutes.
- Add the ground beef, veal, sausage and salt and cook until no pink remains. Add the milk, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 1 hour.
- Add the consomme, white and red wine, tomatoes and all remaining ingredients except for the parsley. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Uncover and continue simmering on very low for another 2 hours. If the bolognese is too runny, uncover and simmer another 30 minutes or until sufficiently thickened. Stir in the parsley and simmer for another minute.
- Serve over pasta (fresh is best) with some freshly grated aged Italian cheese.
- Note: This sauce freezes well and can be used in any pasta dish, including lasagna.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 538 kcal, Carbohydrate 11 g, Protein 27 g, Fat 38 g, SaturatedFat 17 g, Cholesterol 131 mg, Sodium 987 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 7 g, ServingSize 1 serving
"REAL" ITALIAN BOLOGNESE SAUCE
After traveling throughout Italy, savoring the fine tastes of Bolognese from the many different regions, I decided to formulate my own. Try it, you'll love it.
Provided by Classic Chef
Categories Sauces
Time 2h40m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- In a Dutch Oven or Medium Size Pot, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat until butter begins to froth.
- Add onion, celery, carrot, garlic, and bacon.
- Cook until onions are translucent (about 8 to 10 minutes).
- Remove bacon and remove fat.
- Chop lean portions of bacon in small pieces and return to pot.
- Add Ground beef and ground Pork, and cook until meat loses red, raw color.
- Raise heat and add wine and consomme.
- Cook sauce until wine and consomme are mostly evaporated.
- Turn heat down to simmer and add oregano, salt, pepper, sage, red pepper flakes, and nutmeg.
- Let cook for approximately 20 minutes.
- Add crushed tomatoes and bring heat to a boil.
- Once the mixture comes to a boil, return to simmer.
- Let sauce simmer (very slowly) partially covered for about 2 to 4 hours (the longer the better), stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- About 5 to 10 minutes before serving, add milk.
- Sauce can now be added to cooked Penne Pasta, Spaghetti or many other Pastas to your liking.
- Remaining sauce may be frozen for up to two months for future use.
CLASSIC BOLOGNESE MEAT SAUCE (BOLOGNAISE)
I found this in an Italian cookbook by Marcella Hazan. Its a lovely rich sauce. Its the traditional recipe for Bolognese sauce which can be served with Tagliatelle, rigatoni, conchiglie or fusilli but is never served with Spagetti in Italy!
Provided by Little Sand Fairy
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 3h45m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Put the oil, 3 tbsp butter and chopped onion in the pot, turn the heat to medium and cook, stirring the onion until it becomes translucent.
- Add the celery and carrot and stir for two minutes while cooking to coat them well.
- Add the ground beef, a large pinch of salt and a few grindings of black pepper.
- Cook the beef while crumbling it with a fork until the beef has lost its red colour.
- Add the milk and let it simmer gently, stirring frequently until the milk has completely bubbled away.
- Add the nutmeg.
- Add the wine and let it simmer until it has evaporated.
- Add the tomatoes and stir well. When the tomatoes start to bubble turn the heat down so that it is just simmering with the occasional bubble breaking the surface.
- Cook uncovered for 3 hours, stirring from time to time. While it is cooking you will find the sauce dries out so continue to add a 1/2 cup of water when necessary to stop it sticking. However there should not be water left at the end of the 3 hours. The fat will separate from the sauce and this should happen.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary and toss with the pasta and rest of butter. Serve with parmesan on the side.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 960.8, Fat 32.1, SaturatedFat 14.3, Cholesterol 94.5, Sodium 227.6, Carbohydrate 117.9, Fiber 6.6, Sugar 11.4, Protein 37.6
MARCELLA HAZAN'S BOLOGNESE SAUCE
After the death in 2013 of Marcella Hazan, the cookbook author who changed the way Americans cook Italian food, The Times asked readers which of her recipes had become staples in their kitchens. Many people answered with one word: "Bolognese." Ms. Hazan had a few recipes for the classic sauce, and they are all outstanding. This one appeared in her book "The Essentials of Classic Italian Cuisine," and one reader called it "the gold standard." Try it and see for yourself.
Provided by The New York Times
Categories dinner, pastas, main course
Time 4h
Yield 2 heaping cups, for about 6 servings and 1 1/2 pounds pasta
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Put the oil, butter and chopped onion in the pot and turn the heat on to medium. Cook and stir the onion until it has become translucent, then add the chopped celery and carrot. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring vegetables to coat them well.
- Add ground beef, a large pinch of salt and a few grindings of pepper. Crumble the meat with a fork, stir well and cook until the beef has lost its raw, red color.
- Add milk and let it simmer gently, stirring frequently, until it has bubbled away completely. Add a tiny grating -- about 1/8 teaspoon -- of nutmeg, and stir.
- Add the wine, let it simmer until it has evaporated, then add the tomatoes and stir thoroughly to coat all ingredients well. When the tomatoes begin to bubble, turn the heat down so that the sauce cooks at the laziest of simmers, with just an intermittent bubble breaking through to the surface. Cook, uncovered, for 3 hours or more, stirring from time to time. While the sauce is cooking, you are likely to find that it begins to dry out and the fat separates from the meat. To keep it from sticking, add 1/2 cup of water whenever necessary. At the end, however, no water at all must be left and the fat must separate from the sauce. Taste and correct for salt.
- Toss with cooked drained pasta, adding the tablespoon of butter, and serve with freshly grated Parmesan on the side.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will greatly impact the final flavor of your sauce. Use fresh, ripe tomatoes, good quality olive oil, and flavorful beef broth.
- Brown the beef and vegetables well: This will help to develop the flavor of the sauce. Don't overcrowd the pan when browning the beef, as this will prevent it from browning properly.
- Simmer the sauce for a long time: The longer you simmer the sauce, the more flavorful it will be. Aim to simmer the sauce for at least 2 hours, or even longer if you have the time.
- Use a variety of herbs and spices: This will help to give the sauce a complex flavor. Some good choices include oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, and garlic.
- Season the sauce to taste: Once the sauce is done simmering, taste it and adjust the seasonings as needed. You may need to add more salt, pepper, or herbs.
Conclusion:
Classic Italian Bolognese sauce is a delicious and versatile sauce that can be used in a variety of dishes. It is a great way to add flavor to pasta, meat, or vegetables. With a little time and effort, you can easily make this classic sauce at home.
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