Bolognese Beef Sauce

Submitted by Deantini

"This recipe is from one of my favorite cooking shows - Best Recipes Ever. If you prefer you could use ground turkey instead of ground beef. The longer you slow simmer this sauce the better. I used ground turkey and could not detect the difference. I also cut the crushed and diced tomatoes back by 50%, as I thought it would otherwise be too 'tomatoye'"

 

• Ready In: 2hrs
• Ingredients: 17
• Yields: 8 cups
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 1 lb extra lean ground beef
• 6 ounces pancetta, finely chopped (or use bacon)
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 carrots, finely diced
• 2 celery ribs, chopped
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon fennel seed, lightly crushed
• 1⁄2 cup milk
• 28 ounces whole tomatoes
• 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
• 1⁄2 cup red wine (or 2 tsp/10 mL red wine vinegar)
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 pinch granulated sugar
• 1⁄4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

directions

1. In a large Dutch oven, saute beef over medium-high heat, breaking up with spoon, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain off any fat.
2. Add pancetta, onion, garlic, carrots, celery, thyme, salt, pepper and fennel seeds; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, about 8 minutes.
3. Add milk; simmer until almost all liquid has evaporated, about 3 minutes.
4. Add tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, wine, bay leaf and sugar, breaking up tomatoes with potato masher (I usually just use a fork). .
5. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer until thickened and mixture can mound on spoon, about 1 hour.
6. Discard bay leaf. Stir in parsley.
7. (Make-ahead: Let cool for 30 minutes; refrigerate, uncovered, in airtight container until cold. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 1 month.).

Reviews

[Annacia]

I made a double batch of this today and after a sampling for lunch on spaghetti I bagged the rest for the freezer. This is the time of year that I make soups and such for over wintering on the easy. I replaced the wine with beef broth out of personal preference but aside from that followed the recipe. Got 9 bags with enough for two servings (for us) each. The sauce is delicious and will be appreciated all winter long. :D

 

[ElizabethKnicely]

Thank you for uploading this wonderful recipe! We really enjoyed this meal and it was very simple to make. I started everything on the stove top and the transferred it to the crockpot to let it simmer for about 4 hours (because you said it is better the longer it cooks). I came home from an outting with friends and the house smelled like my home growing up. I served this over Whole Wheat Linguine with Garlic Bread and our whole family devoured it. I did take pictures, but am unable to upload them until my laptop is repaired. I will come back in a few days and post them. Thanks so much Deantini! Made for Rookie Recipe Tag *Fall 2013*.