Best 8 Pasta Bolognese Recipes

PASTA BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• In a food processor, puree onion, carrots, celery, and garlic into a coarse paste. In a large pan over medium heat, coat pan with oil. Add the pureed veggies and season generously with salt. Bring the pan to a medium-high heat and cook until all the water has evaporated and they become nice and brown, stirring frequently, about 15 to 20 minutes. Be patient, this is where the big flavors develop.
• Add the ground beef and season again generously with salt. BROWN THE BEEF! Brown food tastes good. Don't rush this step. Cook another 15 to 20 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste and cook until brown about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the red wine. Cook until the wine has reduced by half, another 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add water to the pan until the water is about 1 inch above the meat. Toss in the bay leaves and the bundle of thyme and stir to combine everything. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, stirring occasionally. As the water evaporates you will gradually need to add more, about 2 to 3 cups at a time. Don't be shy about adding water during the cooking process, you can always cook it out. This is a game of reduce and add more water. This is where big rich flavors develop. If you try to add all the water in the beginning you will have boiled meat sauce rather than a rich, thick meaty sauce. Stir and TASTE frequently. Season with salt, if needed (you probably will). Simmer for 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
• During the last 30 minutes of cooking, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat to cook the spaghetti. Pasta water should ALWAYS be well salted. Salty as the ocean! TASTE IT! If your pasta water is under seasoned it doesn't matter how good your sauce is, your complete dish will always taste under seasoned. When the water is at a rolling boil add the spaghetti and cook for 1 minute less than it calls for on the package. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water.
• While the pasta is cooking remove 1/2 of the ragu from the pot and reserve.
• Drain the pasta and add to the pot with the remaining ragu. Stir or toss the pasta to coat with the sauce. Add some of the reserved sauce, if needed, to make it about an even ratio between pasta and sauce. Add the reserved pasta cooking water and cook the pasta and sauce together over a medium heat until the water has reduced. Turn off the heat and give a big sprinkle of Parmigiano and a generous drizzle of the high quality finishing olive oil. Toss or stir vigorously. Divide the pasta and sauce into serving bowls or 1 big pasta bowl. Top with remaining grated Parmigiano. Serve immediately.

FRESH PASTA WITH 20 MINUTE SAUSAGE AND BEEF BOLOGNESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring 4 quarts salted water to a boil in large pot.
• In a large pot on high heat, add extra-virgin olive oil. Add carrot and onion and cook for 1 minute. Add both sausage and ground beef and cook until 3/4 done, about 5 minutes.
• Add tomato paste and garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Deglaze with wine and reduce for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in crushed tomatoes and reduce for 10 minutes on medium heat until slightly thickened.
• Add pasta to water and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring to prevent sticking.
• Stir in basil, parsley, and pasta and season with salt and pepper. Add pasta cooking water, if needed, to loosen sauce to liking. Garnish with grated cheese and parsley.

MUSHROOM BOLOGNESE WITH WHOLE WHEAT PASTA

Steps:

• In a 6-qt. stockpot coated with cooking spray, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and carrots; cook and stir until tender. Add zucchini, mushrooms and garlic; cook and stir until tender. Stir in wine; bring to a boil; cook until liquid is almost evaporated., Stir in crushed and diced tomatoes, cheese and seasonings; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 25-30 minutes or until slightly thickened., Cook rigatoni according to package directions; drain. Serve with sauce.

BOLOGNESE SAUCE - TRADITIONAL ITALIAN MEAT-BASED SAUCE FOR PASTA

Steps:

• In a nonstick skillet saute' the pancetta until brown and crisp. Remove from pan and drain on paper towels; set aside.
• Put the pepper, carrots, celery, onion, mushrooms and garlic in a food processor; pulse until finely chopped.
• Over a medium flame, heat the olive oil and butter in a large, deep saute' pan with a thick, heavy bottom. To the pan add the chopped vegetables and lemon zest, saute' for 6 or 7 minutes - until the onions turn clear and the garlic starts to "dance". Pour all ingredients into a large bowl; reserve for later.
• Continuing to cook over a medium flame, add the sausage links to the saute' pan, breaking into bite-sized clumps with a fork while it cooks; stir often. Cook until no longer pink. Remove sausage from pan and drain on paper towels. Meanwhile, discard all but 1 tablespoon of the pan drippings and add the beef to the saute' pan. Crumble with a fork to break the beef apart; stir often. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook until no longer pink.
• Lower your flame to medium-low and return the sausage, sauteed vegetables and pancetta to the saute' pan; gently stir together to blend. Add the wine and simmer until the alcohol evaporates, about 3 minutes. Add the milk, allspice, basil, oregano and pepper. Simmer until milk thickens a little - around 3 or 4 minutes.
• Stir in the tomatoes and a 1/2 cup of their juice. When the sauce starts to boil, reduce the heat so that it cooks at the barest simmer, with just an occasional bubble or two. Cook, uncovered, for 3 hours, turning down the heat if the sauce starts to scorch. If the sauce dries out before it is done, add a laddle of the reserved tomato juice or the beef broth; and check the seasoning.
• The sauce will improve steadily as it cooks, and if you have the time simmer it longer - many Italian cooks suggest that it be simmered for 6 hours, adding the tomato juice or broth as necessary. When this bolognese sauce is done, it should be rich and thick.
• Cook's Tip: The sauce can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for several days, or frozen for several months. Warm over low heat before serving.
• Cook's Tip: Try using all chopped veal or lamb for a stronger flavor.

ONE-POT PASTA BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• In Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat until hot. Cook onions, carrots and salt in oil 5 to 8 minutes or until softened. Add beef; cook 5 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until browned.
• Stir in tomato paste and tomatoes. Stir in broth, pepper flakes and Italian seasoning; heat to simmering. Break pasta in half, then thoroughly rinse under cold water. Tuck pasta into simmering liquid, covering completely. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook 13 to 15 minutes or until pasta is soft and sauce is reduced slightly.
• Top with Parmesan cheese and basil.

PASTA BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• If using whole tomatoes, in blender or food processor, purée tomatoes with juice. Set aside.
• In large, heavy pot over moderate heat, heat oil until hot but not smoking. Add pancetta and sauté until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add beef, pork, and veal and sauté, breaking up meat with back of spoon, until browned, 7 to 8 minutes. Add onion and carrot and sauté until vegetables are tender, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Stir in red wine and simmer, scraping up browned bits stuck to bottom of pan, until liquid is reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, cream, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to moderately low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened and brick-red in color, approximately 30 minutes.
• In large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until almost tender. Drain well and toss with sauce. Serve with grated cheese.

STUFFED PASTA SHELLS WITH HEARTY CABERNET BOLOGNESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Hearty Cabernet Bolognese Sauce: In a large skillet, cook and stir sausage and onion over medium heat until sausage is browned. Stir in mushrooms and garlic and cook 3-5 min. more until mushrooms are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove skillet from heat. Stir in wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Return skillet to heat. Add drained tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 20 min. If desired, stir in whipping cream. Stuffed Pasta Shells: Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Rinse with cold water; drain again. In a medium bowl, lightly beat eggs. Drain thawed spinach, pressing out excess liquid. Add spinach to eggs along with 1 1/2 C. of provolone, ricotta cheese and cayenne pepper. Spoon 2 rounded tablespoons of the spinach filling into each jumbo shell. Place shells in 2-qt. square baking dish. Spoon Hearty Cabernet Bolognese Sauce over shells. Cover and bake in a 350 F. oven for 50-60 min. or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 C. provolone before serving. Tips for cooking pasta shells: Use 3 qt. of water for every 4-8 oz. of pasta. Add about 1 T. kosher or sea salt to help bring out pasta's flavor. During first two minutes of cooking, gently stir shells so they don't stick together or to bottom of pan. Sauces can slide right off pasta coated in oil, so avoid using when cooking pasta. Test pasta's doneness a minute or two before the end of the cooking time recommended on the package. Rinse one shell under running water until cool enough to handle and give it a taste. It should have a firm and chewy texture - al dente. When pasta is done, rinse and drain as directed in recipe.

PASTA WITH RICOTTA BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a non-stick pan and cook the onion, garlic and pepper until slightly softened. Add the minced beef, turn up the heat and continue to cook until the beef is browned through.
• Add the chopped tomato, tomato puree and herbs, turn down the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta following package instructions.
• Stir the ricotta cheese into the beef mix and serve this with the pasta, sprinkling with Parmesan cheese before serving.