Tortellini Bolognese

Christmas Carol's Note:

After enjoying a Bolognese dish at a famous Italian restaurant, I knew I had to find a recipe I could make at home. The very first one I stumbled upon, from an old $1.00 cookbook I'd purchased, rivaled that of the restaurant's. What luck!!!!

• Total Time: 1 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 slices bacon , finely chopped
• 1 medium onion , finely chopped
• 2 medium carrots , finely chopped
• 2 stalks celery , finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic , minced
• ¾ lb ground sirloin
• ½ lb ground pork
• ½ cup dry red wine , divided
• 2 cups beef broth , divided
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon dried parsley
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 lb frozen cheese tortellini
• freshly grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. In a large, deep skillet, over medium heat, heat olive oil.
2. Add bacon and cook until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Drain grease.
3. Add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic and cook, stirring often, until onion is softened.
4. Break up ground sirloin and pork and add to skillet.
5. Cook until no longer pink, about 10 minutes.
6. Add half the wine and half of the beef broth.
7. Cook over medium-high heat until liquid is almost absorbed, about 15 minutes.
8. Lower heat and stir in the tomato paste, salt, black pepper, parsley, and basil.
9. Pour in remaining wine and beef broth.
10. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.
11. While sauce is simmering prepare tortellini according to package directions.
12. After sauce has simmered 20 minutes, stir in the heavy cream and heat through.
13. Spoon sauce over tortellini and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
14. {Note:I use a food processor to finely chop the bacon, onion, carrots, and celery for a smoother textured sauce, and to save an abundance of time}.

Reviews

[adopt a greyhound]

Great flavor and so easy to do. I did use 1/2 lb. beef 1/2 lb. pork and added pepperoni to the 3 slices already baked bacon. It is so rich but so good. I may try adding anchovies to the veggie next time but great as is.

[*pink*]

This was a delicious meal. It had lots of flavor and was very meaty. I thought the sauce would go perfect with some sliced smoked sausage, so I will use that next time instead of the ground up meat. I didnt read to puree the veggies til the end. So next time I will for sure puree the carrots and celery in a food processor to make a smoother sauce. I liked the small chunks but I agree that pureeing them would make it even better. I as well will double the garlic! I will surely make again sometime, thanks for the recipe!

[LeanneF]

Delicious!!!! Thanks so much for this little beauty Christmas Carol! My Italian husband approved of this Bolognese so that's saying something. This will be a regular in our house now and it's one of the easiest bolognese I have ever made! Cheers!