Ricardo's Bolognese Sauce

Experience the rich, slow-simmered goodness of Ricardo’s Bolognese Sauce, a classic Italian-inspired recipe that elevates any pasta night. This hearty sauce features a flavorful medley of finely diced vegetables, ground beef, and pork, enriched with the creaminess of whole milk and the depth of dry white wine. Simmered with fragrant bay leaf and thyme, along with juicy canned tomatoes and a touch of tomato paste, this Bolognese achieves the perfect balance of savory and aromatic. With a prep time of just 15 minutes and a leisurely cook time that allows the flavors to meld beautifully over two hours, this crowd-pleasing sauce is ideal for dinner parties or Sunday family meals. Serve it over your favorite pasta with fresh parsley and a sprinkle of Parmesan for the ultimate comfort food experience. Keywords: Bolognese sauce, classic Italian recipe, pasta sauce, slow-simmered sauce, ground meat, family dinner.

Nutriscore Rating: 70/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:150 mins

Total Time:165 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 large yellow onion, finely diced
• 1 medium carrot, finely diced
• 1 medium celery stalk, finely diced
• 1 pound ground beef (80% lean)
• 0.5 pound ground pork
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 28 ounces diced tomatoes (canned, with juice)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 whole bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream (optional)
• 0 grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)
• 0 fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Heat olive oil and butter in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat.

Step 2

Add the diced onion, carrot, and celery. Sauté until vegetables are soft and translucent, about 8-10 minutes.

Step 3

Increase heat to medium-high and add the ground beef and ground pork. Cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until browned and no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes.

Step 4

Reduce heat to medium. Pour in the milk and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the milk is nearly evaporated, about 10 minutes.

Step 5

Add the white wine and continue simmering until it has mostly evaporated, about 10 minutes.

Step 6

Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, bay leaf, thyme, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine.

Step 7

Reduce heat to low, cover with the lid slightly ajar, and let the sauce simmer gently for 2 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of water or broth to loosen it.

Step 8

Taste and adjust seasonings, if needed. Stir in the heavy cream, if desired, for a richer finish.

Step 9

Remove the bay leaf before serving.

Step 10

Serve the Bolognese sauce over your favorite pasta, topped with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2599.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3099.4

Total Fat 214.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 84.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.9g
Cholesterol 646.5mg	0%
Sodium 4696.0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 97.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 21.4g	0%
Total Sugars 59.7g
Protein 161.0g	0%

Vitamin D 135.5IU	0%
Calcium 968.1mg	0%
Iron 23.5mg	0%
Potassium 5050.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 65.1%

Protein: 21.7%

Carbs: 13.1%