Simple Bolognese

This is a moderate to low skill recipe. It does give a satisfying taste and feeling of accomplishment when completed. This can give a lot of sauce for a great family pasta dinner. The first time I made this with my dad, it was pretty simple and fun to make.


Ingredients: 

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped 
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and coarsely chopped
• 1 celery stalk, coarsely chopped
• 1 carrot, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 lb. of ground beef and 1/2 lb. ground pork
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1/4 cup flat-leaf Italian parsley, chopped
• 8 fresh basil leaves, chopped
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup reggiano parmesan cheese

Steps: 

1. in a large skillet heat the olive oil
2. when almost smoking add the chopped onions and garlic and saute over a medium heat until the onions become very soft (about 8 minutes)
3. add celery and carrot and let it saute for 5 minutes
4. raise heat to high and add the ground beef and ground pork
5. saute, stirring frequently and breaking up and large lumps and cook until meat is no longer pink (about 10 minutes)
6. add the tomatoes, parsley and basil and cook over medium low heat until the sauce thickens
7. season with salt and pepper 
8. this will take about 1/2 hour 
9. finish the sauce off with the cheese

Bolognese sauce is a hearty dish that gives you the chance to combine meat with vegetables, and pasta compliments the sauce. My preference of pasta for this sauce is reginette because the way that this macaroni is made, it has little bends in it that let the beef and vegetables hold onto the macaroni better. If you use other kinds of pasta such as spaghetti, it does not hold onto the sauce that well because spaghetti is round and small. This sauce also has a great taste that is just so good that you have to lick your lips instead of wiping it away with your napkin.