Slow simmered classic Italian Pasta Bolognese sauce with pancetta, ground beef, onions, carrots, celery, and tomatoes over al dente pasta and sprinkled with fresh thyme and basil.
Course pasta
Cuisine Italian
Keyword bolognese sauce, how to make bolognese pasta, spaghetti bolognese, what is bolognese pasta
Prep Time 15 minutesminutes
Cook Time 1 hourhour30 minutesminutes
Servings 6servings
Calories 530kcal
Author Beth Pierce
Ingredients
1tablespoonextra virgin olive oil
3ouncespancettachopped
1lblean lean ground beef
1medium yellow onionfinely chopped
1large carrotfinely chopped
1rib celeryfinely chopped
4clovesgarlic minced
3tablespoonstomato paste
½cupdry red winesee notes
½-1cuplow sodium beef broth
128 ounce can crushed tomatoes
1bay leaf
1-2Parmesan rindsoptional
1lb.rigatoni pasta
1cupwhole milk
2tablespoonschopped fresh thyme
2tablespoonschopped fresh basil
Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
Freshly grated parmesan cheeseserving
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the pancetta and cook until slightly crispy, approximately 5 minutes.
Add the ground beef and cook until about halfway browned. Add the onions, carrots, and celery and cook until the beef is browned and the vegetables are tender. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute while stirring.
Add the tomato paste, red wine, beef broth, crushed tomatoes, bay leaf. and if desired Parmesan rinds. Bring the mixture to a soft boil and then reduce to a low simmer. Simmer uncovered for about 2-3 hours adding more beef broth if the mixture becomes too thick.
Once the sauce is almost simmered down bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook the rigatoni al dente according to package instructions and drain well.
Stir the milk, fresh thyme, and fresh basil into the sauce. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
Mix in the cooked pasta and top with fresh herbs. Serve with a little freshly grated Parmesan Cheese.
Notes
Pancetta is a cut from the belly of the pig that is cured with salt but not smoked. It is sliced very thin. You can eat it cooked or uncooked. I prefer mine cooked in a skillet like bacon.
Chop the veggies very fine. It takes a little bit of time but it is well worth the effort.
If you keep old Parmesan rinds in the fridge or the freezer and they have so signs of spoilage add them to the sauce and let them simmer in the sauce.
Don't forget to remove the Parmesan rinds and the bay leaf before serving.
For best results use fresh herbs but do not add them until the sauce is finished simmering.
Substitutions for the dry red wine include dry white wine, vodka, or more beef broth.
Other kinds of pasta that work with this sauce include tagliatelle, pappardelle, penne, ziti, or even medium shells.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For best results heat in the microwave at reduced power.