The heart and soul of authentic Italian cuisine, a traditional Bolognese sauce is a rich, slow-cooked meat sauce that hails from Bologna, Italy. This sauce is characterized by its depth of flavor, combining ground meat with a symphony of vegetables and spices, all melded together over hours of gentle simmering. The result is a thick, velvety sauce that clings beautifully to pasta, offering a mouthwatering experience in every bite.
In a classic Bolognese, you’ll find a mixture of ground beef and pork, finely chopped soffritto (a mix of onion, carrot, and celery), a splash of wine, and tomatoes in various forms. Some variations also incorporate milk or cream, imparting a luxurious texture to the sauce.
While Bolognese might be commonly associated with spaghetti in many parts of the world, traditionally, it’s served with tagliatelle – a broad, flat pasta that’s perfectly suited for such a robust sauce. But the versatility of Bolognese means it’s also a fantastic choice for lasagna, or as a hearty accompaniment to polenta or gnocchi.
One of the secrets of a genuine Bolognese is patience. The sauce needs time for the flavors to meld and develop fully. As it simmers on the stove, it fills the kitchen with an aroma that evokes the warmth of an Italian kitchen, reminding one of the love and tradition that goes into this culinary masterpiece.
Ingredients
- 500 grams Ground Beef Lean
- 1 whole Onion diced
- 1 whole Red Bell Pepper diced
- 1 whole Green Bell Pepper diced
- 3 cans Tomato Sauce chopped, 12 oz. can size
- 1 tbsp Oregano dried
- 1 tbsp Marjoram
- 1/2 tbsp Thyme
- 4 cloves Garlic fresh, minced
Instructions
- Gather all your ingredients. Chop the onions and peppers, and finely grate the garlic.
- In a sizable pot, pour in the olive oil and brown the ground beef.
- Add the chopped vegetables and sauté for roughly 8 minutes, then incorporate the spices and minced garlic, mixing until well combined.
- Pour in the tomato sauce and mix well. When it starts to boil, partially cover the pot and reduce the heat to let it simmer. Allow the sauce to simmer for about 1.5 hours.
- The sauce is now prepared and can be used for spaghetti or the lasagna recipe available on the website.
