Bolognese sauce

Here’s a classic Bolognese sauce recipe 🍝🍅

Ingredients (serves ~4–6)

• 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (or a mix of beef & pork)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 carrots, finely chopped
• 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
• 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (28 oz / 800 g) crushed tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• ½ cup red wine (optional, can substitute with broth)
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• Salt & pepper, to taste
• ½ cup milk (optional, makes it richer)
• Optional: fresh parsley or grated Parmesan for serving

Instructions

1. Sauté vegetables
   Heat olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat.
   Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook 5–6 minutes until softened.
   Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
2. Brown meat
   Add ground meat and cook until fully browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
3. Add liquids & seasoning
   Stir in tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, wine (or broth), oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.
4. Simmer
   Reduce heat to low and simmer 45–60 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of water or broth if sauce thickens too much.
5. Finish with milk
   Stir in milk (if using) in the last 10 minutes of cooking for extra creaminess.
6. Serve
   Toss with cooked pasta and top with Parmesan and parsley.

Tips

• Simmer longer for deeper flavor (up to 2 hours).
• Can add a pinch of nutmeg for traditional flavor.
• Freeze leftovers in portions for easy future meals.

I can also give a quick 30-minute version, a slow-cooker version, or a lighter, lower-fat version.