A Comforting Ragù Alla Bolognese (A Rich Meaty Pasta Sauce)
What I love most about this recipe is that I usually have the ingredients in the pantry and the freezer so there’s no special trip to the grocery store. Sometimes if I have mushrooms or a zucchini, I’ll slice and dice those up and throw them in at the same time as the carrots. And while I love the flavor Italian sausage adds to this sauce, sometimes I don’t have any on hand so I’ll just use the ground beef and decrease the tomatoes to one 28-ounce can and one 15-ounce can.
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and dice
4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
3 carrots, peeled and diced, about 1 cup
1 pound freshly ground beef
1/2 pound bulk Italian sausage (mild or spicy, your choice)
1 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes
Fresh herbs: 3 tablespoons fresh oregano & 3 tablespoons fresh basil OR dried herbs: 1 tablespoon oregano and 1 tablespoon basil
Water
1 pound dried pasta: spaghetti, bow tie, or penne
Grated Parmesan cheese
4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
3 carrots, peeled and diced, about 1 cup
1 pound freshly ground beef
1/2 pound bulk Italian sausage (mild or spicy, your choice)
1 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes
Fresh herbs: 3 tablespoons fresh oregano & 3 tablespoons fresh basil OR dried herbs: 1 tablespoon oregano and 1 tablespoon basil
Water
1 pound dried pasta: spaghetti, bow tie, or penne
Grated Parmesan cheese
Heat your olive oil in a large pot. Add your onion and carrots. Sauté on medium-low heat for about 5 minutes, until they begin to soften. Add your garlic. Sauté another minute.
Once your vegetables are soft, add your ground beef and sausage. Break up your meat with a wooden spoon. Add a pinch of salt and a crack or two of the black pepper mill and cook until the meat is browned. Stirring occasionally.
Add in your tomatoes and herbs. Stir to combine. Pour in enough water so that your veggies and meat are just covered. Bring to a boil and then, turn the heat down to low and simmer, uncovered, at least 40 minutes or up to 3 hours on very, very low heat, stirring occasionally.
About 15 minutes out from when you’re ready to serve your meal, boil up a pot of water, toss in your pasta and cook according to the directions on the package, usually about 10 minutes. Drain the pasta.
Spoon your sauce over your pasta, sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top and enjoy. Or, if you can possibly stand it, wait and eat it the next day. Even better by then. (You may have to add a little water to it when reheating.) The flavors will have mellowed and created this smooth, rounded bite full of tomatoes and meat and carrots and herbs. Simply delicious. Enjoy!
Once your vegetables are soft, add your ground beef and sausage. Break up your meat with a wooden spoon. Add a pinch of salt and a crack or two of the black pepper mill and cook until the meat is browned. Stirring occasionally.
Add in your tomatoes and herbs. Stir to combine. Pour in enough water so that your veggies and meat are just covered. Bring to a boil and then, turn the heat down to low and simmer, uncovered, at least 40 minutes or up to 3 hours on very, very low heat, stirring occasionally.
About 15 minutes out from when you’re ready to serve your meal, boil up a pot of water, toss in your pasta and cook according to the directions on the package, usually about 10 minutes. Drain the pasta.
Spoon your sauce over your pasta, sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top and enjoy. Or, if you can possibly stand it, wait and eat it the next day. Even better by then. (You may have to add a little water to it when reheating.) The flavors will have mellowed and created this smooth, rounded bite full of tomatoes and meat and carrots and herbs. Simply delicious. Enjoy!
YIELD: One big pot, enough for a family of 5 with leftovers
What a nice reminder that slowing down every once in a while won't in fact knock the earth of its axis! They are growing up fast, aren't they? 🙂
This is a beautiful post, Carrie. And the recipe sounds delicious.
Wonderfull my little one.
Pops
I absolutely love your blog…you write wonderfully, wonderful posts and are generous with recipes.
I will visit again and often.
Smiles ~ Ramona
Amber-They are growing up fast. Would love to have you teach me some of your amazing "portrait" skills so I can take some better pictures of my little ones. You're "people" shots are fabulous!
Angie-Thank you so much.
Dad-When you get back from Hawaii and re-enter the rainy NW weather, I'll cook up a pot of this for you.
Ramona-So glad you enjoy my blog. Thank you for your kind words.
I made this last night for some friends and it was amazing, thank you so much for the recipe.
-Chris
Chris, So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for letting me know! Carrie