Classic Bolognese Sauce (A.K.A. Ragu)
photo by Susan G. Oakton
- Ready In:
- 8hrs 10mins
- Ingredients:
- 14
- Yields:
-
3 cups
ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 large onions, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 celery ribs, thinly sliced
- 1 carrot, finely chopped
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup dry red wine
- 1⁄2 cup milk
- 1⁄8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 1 (14 ounce) can Italian tomatoes, roughly chopped,with their juice
directions
- In order to prevent the ragu from reducing too quickly, use the heaviest, deepest pot that you own.
- Melt butter& oil and saute onion& garlic over medium heat until just translucent.
- Add celery& carrot and cook gently for about 2 minutes.
- Add the ground beef, crumbling it in the pot with a fork.
- Stir in salt.
- Cook only until the meat loses its raw, red colour.
- Add the wine, turn heat up to medium high and cook, stirring occasionally, until all the wine evaporates (1/2 hour to 45 minutes).
- Turn the heat down to medium, add the milk& nutmeg and cook, stirring frequently, until all the milk evaporates (1/2 hour TO 45 minutes).
- Add oregano, pepper& tomatoes and stir thoroughly.
- When the tomatoes have started to boil, turn the heat down until the sauce cooks at the laziest simmer- just the occasional bubble.
- Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for at least 4 hours (5 hours is better).
- If you can't watch the sauce for such a long stretch, you can interrupt this simmering time- but DO complete it in the same day!
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
In the words of Tracy Byrd, "I'm from the country & I like it that way"!!
On May 1, 2008 my husband and I started a new adventure. We'll be living in a 37 foot RV while our new home is under construction. Its out in the country on a dead end dirt road with lots of trees. For the next 4 months or so, most meals will be cooked on the BBQ and life will be full of challenges!
We love spending quality time with our friends & family - especially the grandkids!! The photo is 4 generations - my 84 year old mother, myself, my daughter & my youngest granddaughter - taken at the end of 2006.
I've participated in many contests & events here on Zaar but this is the first banner that I've posted. My thanks to Dreamgoddess for hosting the contest & SusieD for the banner design!
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