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Bolognese Sauce
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Bolognese Sauce

4-hour sauce that will take you to Italy in one bite. Rich and full of flavor, this is the best sauce!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 10 minutes
Course: dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: bolognese, Bolognese sauce, cento tomatoes, comfort food, italian classic, italian cooking, italian food, Meat sauce, mutti sauce, pasta, rich sauce, shell pasta, trending, winter meals, winter recipes

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Ground beef ( You can add 1/2 pound of ground pork or Italian sausage too) I use 85/15 blend-grass fed
  • 1/2 red onion, chopped small
  • 2 celery sticks chopped small
  • 1 1/2 carrots, peeled and chopped small
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 ounces tomato paste
  • 7 ounces peeled whole tomatoes I like cento brand
  • 24 ounces passata or tomato sauce I like Mutti brand
  • 1/2 cup red wine
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 tbsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic flakes
  • salt and pepper
  • Fresh grated parmesan cheese
  • Choice of pasta, cooked al dente

Instructions

  • Start by prepping/chopping the onion, celery, carrots, and garlic.
  • In a large Dutch oven or stock pot add 2 tbsp. of olive oil and set to medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 2 minutes.
  • Add the celery, carrot, and garlic. Saute for 4-5 minutes.
  • After the 5 minutes are up, add the meat then season with 1 tsp of salt and 1 tsp. pepper. Cook mixing up into small meat pieces until no longer pink.
  • After most of the liquid is gone add the 1/2 cup of red wine.
  • Cook until almost evaporated and then goes the passata,
    To the passata bottle, fill 1/4 way full of water, shake up and pour into the pot. Cannot waste any goodness!
  • Next to the party is the whole tomatoes and tomato paste.
    Turn the heat to low and give it a good stir.
  • Let the sauce cook for 1 hour uncovered on low.
    Mix every 20 minutes or so.
    After 1 hour add 2 cups of hot water, stir, and let cook for another hour.
    This step is especially important as this is how we achieve that melt in your mouth bite that you get in a fancy restaurant. Trust the process!
  • Okay hour 3, add the Italian seasoning garlic powder, garlic flakes, stir well, and give it a taste to see if you need to add more salt and pepper.
    Now add 1 more cup of water, stir and let it do its thing. Cook for 30 more minutes.
    Remember to stir and keep an eye on it.
  • After 30 minutes is over, get the noodles going. Boil until al dente.
    Serve with a healthy scoop of the sauce and garnish with lots of fresh parmesan cheese.
  • ENJOY!