Beef Bolognese Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 fresh basil leaves
medium-large
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
unsalted, divided
- ½ small yellow onion
peeled & minced
- ¼ cup minced carrot
- ¼ cup minced celery
optional
- 1 pound ground chuck
- Kosher salt
- 1 cup dry white wine
a good drinking wine
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 gratings of whole nutmeg
- 1 28 ounce can imported Italian roma tomatoes
preferably San Marzano
- For serving
- 1 pound pasta
cooked according to package instructions
- Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Directions
- 1
Set a heavy bottomed saucepan, or Dutch oven, over medium heat. Add the olive oil and when the oil shimmers, place the basil leaves in the oil. Fry the leaves just until crispy but not browned. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the leaves to a paper towel-lined saucer; set aside.
- 2
Add 2 tablespoons butter to the oil. Add the minced onion, carrot and celery and sauté until the vegetables have lightly browned.
- 3
Add the ground chuck (break up the meat as it cooks) and continue to cook until the meat is slightly pink.
- 4
Season with salt and continue cooking & stirring until the ground chuck is completely cooked through.
- 5
Add the wine and cook until it has almost evaporated, stir occasionally.
- 6
Pour in the milk and add 2 gratings of nutmeg (scrape fresh nutmeg over a grater/zester two times). Cook, stirring often, until the milk has almost evaporated.
- 7
In a medium bowl, coarsely chop the tomatoes and add them to the pot. Once again, season with salt.
- 8
Bring the tomatoes just to a soft boil and turn the heat to the lowest temperature. The sauce should be barely simmering.
- 9
Cook uncovered for 3 hours, stirring every 10-15 minutes.
- 10
If the liquid completely evaporates before 3 hours is up, add ½ cup water as needed.
- 11
When 3 hours have passed, make sure all the liquid has evaporated before removing the sauce from the heat.
- 12
For Serving:
- 13
Serve the Bolognese over a bed of pasta and garnish with 2-3 fried basil leaves on top. Serve with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.
- 14
Enjoy!
Beef Bolognese Recipe
Similar Recipes
Ratings & Reviews
Be the First to Rate
Your rating helps others discover amazing recipes. Share your experience and let others know what you think!
About this Recipe
Craving the rich, deeply satisfying flavors of authentic Italian comfort food? This Beef Bolognese Recipe delivers a truly exceptional, slow-simmered meat sauce that will transport your taste buds straight to Italy, right from your kitchen. It's lauded as the best bolognese sauce recipe you'll find outside of Italy itself!
What sets this bolognese apart is its steadfast commitment to classic ingredients and a truly generous, unhurried simmer. The careful balance of savory ground chuck, aromatic onion, carrot, and optional celery, alongside sweet imported Italian Roma tomatoes (San Marzano preferred), creates an incredible depth of flavor. Mellowed with dry white wine and whole milk, this is a meat sauce built on patience, resulting in a richness that simply cannot be rushed.
Prepare for a deeply savory and incredibly comforting experience. This Beef Bolognese boasts a luxurious, thick texture, coating every strand of pasta beautifully. You'll taste the sweet complexity of slow-cooked tomatoes mingling with the tender, seasoned ground chuck, all brightened by fragrant fresh basil and finished with a salty, nutty grating of Parmigiano-Reggiano. It’s an indulgent, hearty meal, perfect for a cozy evening gathering and designed to feed four hungry diners generously.
Customization & Serving Suggestions
While this recipe truly shines in its classic rendition, a few simple adjustments can tailor it to your liking. For an even richer base, you can always increase the butter slightly. If you're not a fan of celery, it's listed as optional and can be easily omitted without compromising the core flavor profile of this incredible sauce. Similarly, experiment with different dry white wines; choose a good drinking wine that you genuinely enjoy for the best results in your sauce.
Serve this exquisite Beef Bolognese generously over your favorite cooked pasta, ensuring every noodle is thoroughly coated in the luscious sauce. Garnish each bowl with a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and a few vibrant fresh basil leaves for a beautiful, aromatic finish.