Bolognese Sauce
Italian bolognese sauce features garlic, tomatoes, sausage, bacon, and wine slowly cooked down into a robust, immensely flavorful sauce!
- Prep time
- 15 min
- Cook time
- 6 hr
- Yield
- 8 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
- 10 black peppercorns
- 4 clove (whole)
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tsp fennel seeds
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 lb pancetta diced small (or bacon)
- 1 large yellow onion (finely chopped)
- 2 carrots (peeled and diced small)
- 2 celery stalks (diced small)
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 4 clove garlic (finely chopped)
- 14 oz canned whole tomatoes
- 4 oz tomato paste
- 1/2 cup red wine ((See Note 1))
- 1 lb ground beef (90/10 (See Note 2))
- 1 lb Sweet or Hot Italian pork sausages (casings removed (See Note 2))
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
Instructions
- 1
Blend the cloves, bay leaf, fennel seeds, red pepper flakes, and peppercorns in a spice mill or cleaned coffee grinder until finely ground. Set aside.
- 2
In a large skillet (or large pot like Dutch oven if cooking stovetop) add the cubed pancetta (or bacon) and brown until rendered and crispy. Remove from pan and place on plate lined with paper towel. Set aside.
- 3
In same skillet (or large pot like Dutch oven if cooking stovetop) remove all but 1 tablespoon of fat and save remaining for other use. Add the onions, carrots, celery and salt, stirring as needed until golden in color, about 5-6 minutes. Add the garlic and stir, cooking another 2 minutes.
- 4
Add the sautéed vegetables to a slow cooker coated with cooking spray if using (or keep in large pot like Dutch oven if cooking stovetop). Stir in the spice mixture, pancetta, ground beef (uncooked), pork sausage meat (uncooked), red wine, tomatoes and tomato paste. Stir to incorporate, breaking up meat and tomatoes, top with lid. Cook for 4 hours on high setting in slow cooker or 3 hours Medium-Low heat for stovetop.
- 5
At the 4 hour mark, remove lid. Stir in the the milk and cook on high setting for 2 hours or until thickened and reduced (1 hour over medium heat for large pot or Dutch oven). Stir often.
- 6
After 2 hours add the vinegar, stirring to incorporate, and adjust seasoning with salt if needed. NOTE: Stir in 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, mixing thoroughly until sauce is thick and glossy. Serve over your favorite pasta or use as a sauce for lasagna.