My simple bolognese is a staple in the house, and it's one of Jade's all-time favorite dishes (so much so, that when we go to Italy, bolognese is almost all she wants to order!). This is my absolute staple recipe, and it's truly simple. The aromatic vegetables impart so much flavor, I've tried this recipe with almost every ground meat imaginable and it's always delicious, and the real kicker is the canned cherry tomatoes. They make the sauce so sweet without having to add any sugar. 

Pasta shape really matters here, too. You need something hearty that can hold perfect bites of pasta: orecchiette, nodi marini and mezzi rigatoni are all among my favorites. For a long pasta shape, pappardelle is the move!



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Simple Bolognese

Servings

6

Prep Time

10 minutes

Cook Time

45 minutes

Image of Simple Bolognese

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet heat the olive oil. When almost smoking, add the onion and garlic and saute over medium heat until the onions become very soft, about 8 minutes. Add the celery and carrot and saute for 5 minutes. Raise the heat to high and add the ground beef. Saute, stirring frequently and breaking up any large lumps and cook until meat is no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes, parsley, and basil and cook over medium low heat until the sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper. This will take approximately 1/2 hour. Finish the bolognese with Pecorino Romano.

  2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Season generously with kosher salt. Add the pasta to the water and cook for 2 minutes less than directed, about 8 to 9 minutes. Using tongs, add the pasta directly from the pasta water to the sauce. Serve drizzled with more olive oil and sprinkled with more cheese if desired.

gluten free
nut free
Organic Nodi Marini Pasta

Organic Nodi Marini Pasta

from $10.00
Italian Riviera Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Italian Riviera Extra Virgin Olive Oil

from $33.00
Lemon and Oregano Salt

Lemon and Oregano Salt

$10.00