Mario Batali's Fettuccine Bolognese

yooper's Note:

A hearty, stick to the ribs entree from TV chef Mario Batali. I substitute ground beef for the harder to find veal. Taken from Bon Appetit.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 45 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 medium onions , chopped
• 2 cups chopped celery
• 6 garlic cloves , chopped
• 1 lb ground veal
• 1 lb ground pork
• 4 ounces pancetta or 4 ounces bacon , finely chopped
• 2 (14 ½ ounce) cans whole tomatoes , in juice
• 1 (14 ½ ounce) can reduced-sodium chicken broth
• ½ cup whole milk
• 5 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or 2 ½ teaspoons dried thyme
• 12 ounces fettuccine
• 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat.
2. Add onions, celery and garlic an saute until vegetables are tender and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes.
3. Increase heat to high; add veal, pork, pancetta or bacon and saute until meat is brown, breaking up meat with the back of a fork, about 10 minutes.
4. Add tomatoes with their juices, 1 3/4 cups chicken broth, milk and thyme.
5. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 1 hour 15 minutes, breaking up tomatoes with the back of a spoon, adding more chicken broth if mixture is too thick and stirring occasionally.
6. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
7. Cook fettuccine in large pot of boiling water just until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally.
8. Drain.
9. Add fettuccine to pot with ragu and toss to blend.
10. Transfer to large bowl.
11. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup Parmesan.
12. Serve, passing remaining Parmesan seperately.

Reviews

[greenfinn]

Have to say the thyme is way too powerful here, and this recipe is not at all similar to the one listed on food network for Batali.

[jennifer in new jersey]

very nice sauce. easy enough to make; used all organic ingredients, but had to sub bacon for the pancetta which i know makes a difference in this sauce as pancetta gives it a better taste. i split the amount of the chicken broth and did half of it broth and the other half white wine. thanks for sharing.

[Highland Lass]

Hooray for you Yooper for posting and allowing me enjoy this luscious little Bolognese yet once again! I found this recipe a number of years ago and misplaced it when I moved last year. On a whim, I searched “Mario Batali” and was so pleased when your recipe popped up! If you can manage to find ground veal, it does make a difference. Fresh thyme is of utmost importance…I have made it with dried thyme and it lacks miserably. Kudos Yooper!