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–+ servings
spaghetti covered with bolognese sauce and basil ribbons on top

Homemade Bolognese Sauce

A rich, slow-simmered bolognese sauce with a vegetarian swap built right in.
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes

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Course: Appetizer, Dinner Recipes, Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean
Keyword: Homemade Bolognese, rich
Servings: 6
Calories: 296kcal
Author: Anne Lawton

Homemade Bolognese Sauce

Equipment

Scale this Recipe 6

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound lean ground beef
  • 1/2 pound Italian pork sausage
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 cup diced carrots about 2 carrots
  • 1/4 cup diced celery about 2 stalks
  • 1/4 cup minced onion 1bout 1/2 onion
  • 3 to 4 cloves minced garlic
  • 3/4 cup red wine
  • 1 1/2 cups diced or strained tomatoes
  • a pinch of nutmeg
  • 1 bay leaf
  • freshly grated Parmesan cheese for sprinkling
  • 1/4 cup whole milk or light cream
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Instructions

  • Heat a cast-iron pan or dutch oven over medium heat.
  • Add the onions, garlic, carrots, and celery - cook stirring occasionally until they begin to soften which will take about 6 to 8 minutes.
  • Add the ground beef and sausage to the pan and for 8 to 10 minutes until it's almost cooked through.
  • Gradually add the wine in intervals, allowing it to evaporate before adding more. This step can take up to 30 minutes.
  • Stir in the tomatoes, nutmeg, and bay leaf. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for an hour on very low heat.
  • Remove the bay leaf and stir in the milk. Cover the pan loosely and simmer for 20 minutes longer and serve over your favorite pasta.

Video

Notes

MAKE IT YOUR OWN: Sub mushrooms and lentils for a vegetarian version. Swap wine for broth to skip the alcohol. Store in the fridge up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.  
For more flexible dinner ideas, check out my pasta dinner builder.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 296kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 347mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used

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