Classic Ragu Bolognese Recipes

CLASSIC RAGU BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add onions, celery, and carrots. Saute until soft, 8-10 minutes. Add beef, veal, and pancetta; saute, breaking up with the back of a spoon, until browned, about 15 minutes. Add wine; boil 1 minute, stirring often and scraping up browned bits. Add 2 1/2 cups stock and tomato paste; stir to blend. Reduce heat to very low and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until flavors meld, 1 1/2 hours. Season with salt and pepper.
• Bring milk to a simmer in a small saucepan; gradually add to sauce. Cover sauce with lid slightly ajar and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until milk is absorbed, about 45 minutes, adding more stock by 1/4-cupfuls to thin if needed. DO AHEAD: Ragu can be made 2 days ahead. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Rewarm before continuing.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season with salt; add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until 1 minute before al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water. Transfer ragu to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pasta and toss to coat. Stir in some of the reserved pasta water by tablespoonfuls if sauce seems dry. Divide pasta among warm plates. Serve with Parmesan.

RAGU BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil and butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion, celery and carrots until soft. Add veal, pork, beef and pancetta, and cook until evenly brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Pour in milk, and cook until liquid has evaporated, about 15 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce and beef broth. Cover, and simmer 2 1/2 hours.

CLASSIC RAGU BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add onions, celery, and carrots. Saute until soft, 8-10 minutes. Add beef, veal, and pancetta; saute, breaking up with the back of a spoon, until browned, about 15 minutes. Add wine; boil 1 minute, stirring often and scraping up browned bits. Add 2 1/2 cups of stock and tomato paste; stir to blend. Reduce heat to very low and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until flavors meld, 1 1/2 hours. Season with salt and pepper.
• Bring milk to a simmer in a small saucepan; gradually add to sauce. Cover with lid slightly ajar and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until milk is absorbed, about 45 minutes, adding more stock by 1/4-cupfuls to thin if needed. DO AHEAD: Ragu can be made 2 days ahead. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Rewarm befor continuing.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season with salt; add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until 1 minute before al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water. Transfer ragu to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pasta and toss to coat. Stir in some of the reserved pasta water by tablespoonfuls if sauce seems dry. Divide pasta among warm plates. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan.

RAGU BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• In a heavy-bottomed deep pot, combine butter and olive oil. Place over low heat until butter has melted. Add carrots, celery and onion, and mix well. Saute until vegetables begin to soften, about 3 minutes.
• Add beef, nutmeg and salt to taste. Stir well with a wooden spoon to break up meat. Cover pot, and allow to simmer until beef is lightly cooked but not browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Add milk, and cover. Cook over the lowest possible heat, stirring occasionally, until there is almost no liquid, about 45 minutes.
• If using bouillon, dissolve it in tomato paste mixture. Add tomato paste to pot, stir well and continue cooking over very low heat for an additional 45 minutes. Serve over tagliatelle, tortellini or other pasta with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

RAGU BOLOGNESE (AUTHENTIC)

Steps:

• Prepping makes the whole experience more enjoyable.
• Finely chop pancetta.
• Finely dice carrots, onions and celery.
• Wash livers carefully, then flatten livers and chop.
• Warm milk and chicken stock.
• Peel Garlic.
• In a Dutch oven over medium heat add 2 tbsp oil with 2 tbsp butter. Add the onions and sauté until the onions are soft, 8 - 10 minute. Do not brown.
• Add the remaining butter and olive oil.
• Add carrots and celery, increase heat to med-high, sauté until they start to brown.
• Add pancetta, prosciutto, mortadella or your choice of any combo of meats and sauté one to two minutes.
• Remove mixture from pan to a bowl and reserve.
• Add chicken liver and stir frequently 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add ground beef or meat blend and brown (do not stew meat, if you need to, do so in stages)
• Return vegetable mix to Dutch oven.
• Add tomato paste to meat and vegetable mix and brown paste for about 10-15 minute important step, develops deep flavor.
• Add wine to deglaze, allow it to evaporate 4 - 7 minutes.
• Add 1 cup warm milk and pinch nutmeg, allow it to come to a boil, carefully reduce milk for 3 - 5 minutes.
• Add passata or whole tomatoes crushed my hand or potato masher.
• Add chicken stock and whole garlic cloves stir. Cover and continue to cook for 3 to 4 hours over very low heat or place into oven at 275 for 3 to 4 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Several minutes before serving mash garlic cloves against wall of Dutch oven and add remaining milk continue to cook 10 minutes.

NORTH ITALIAN MEAT SAUCE (RAGU BOLOGNESE)

Steps:

• In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add pancetta, onion, carrot, and celery and cook, stirring often, for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer to a heavy large saucepan.
• In same skillet, heat olive oil. Cook ground beef and pork over medium heat, stirring to break up any lumps, until browned. Pour in the wine, increase the heat and boil briskly, stirring constantly, until almost all of the liquid has evaporated. Transfer ground meat mixture to the saucepan with the pancetta and vegetables. Set skillet aside.
• Stir the beef stock and tomato paste into the saucepan. Bring sauce to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, melt remaining 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat in the original skillet. Add chicken livers and saute for 3 to 4 minutes, or until firm and lightly browned. Remove livers from skillet and dice. Set aside and add to sauce 10 minutes before it is done. A few minutes before serving, stir in the cream and let it heat through. Season sauce with nutmeg, salt, and pepper to taste.