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How to Make Authentic Bolognese Sauce
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Authentic Bolognese Sauce

Course Sauce
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 10 minutes
Servings 6
Author Vincenzo's Plate

Equipment

  • Sharp knife
  • Chopping-board
  • 2 Large pots
  • wooden spoon
  • Tongs Sieve
  • Large serving spoon
  • Kettle

Ingredients

  • 1 Red onion Brown. Chopped
  • 3 stalks Celery Chopped
  • 3 Carrots Chopped
  • 500 grams Pork 17.6oz. Mince
  • 300 grams Beef 10.5oz. Mince
  • 200 grams Veal 7.05oz. Mince
  • 1 L Italian tomato passata 4.2 cups
  • 400 grams Tomatoes 14.1oz. Peeled
  • 150 grams Tomato paste 5.29oz
  • Extra virgin olive oil EVOO
  • 1 glass Red wine
  • 1 mug Full cream milk
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1-2 L Water to be boiled using the kettle

Instructions

  • Authentic Bolognese sauce starts with a soffrito, so place a large pot on your stove (medium heat), add a generous amount of extra virgin olive oil and once warm, add onion.
  • When the onion begins to look glossy and golden, add carrots, celery and then stir through, leaving to cook for 4-5 minutes.
  • Next add ½ glass red wine (118ml) to the authentic Bolognese sauce and leave to simmer on low for a few minutes or until the wine evaporates.
  • Add the mince and break it down using a wooden spoon and/or fork before seasoning with only salt and pepper.
  • Mix every so often to ensure the mince is all cooked through, leaving to brown.
  • Once the water has evaporated, mix in the other half glass of red wine.
  • In total, authentic Bolognese sauce should cook for up to 4-5hr and this will make the meat more tender.
  • After allowing the wine to evaporate again, mix through the passata, paste and peeled tomatoes.
  • Crush tomatoes using the wooden spoon as you stir through.
  • After 1.5hr, add 1L/4.2cups boiled water to the pot and mix through. At this point, taste for salt – this is a preference of taste, add only if you want more as no other seasoning is necessary for an authentic Bolognese sauce!
  • Then after another hour or so, add more – the trick is when the sauce looks dry, add water, this will thicken the mixture and allow the mince to become more tender.
  • Allow the sauce to bubble only a small amount and not spurt everywhere. If it is bubbling too much, turn the heat down.
  • When the sauce is 1/2 hr away from being ready, boil 5L water in a second pot then add a tablespoon of rock salt, leaving it to dissolve.
  • Once the sauce has been cooking for up to 5hr, remove it from the heat and leave to rest.
  • Add your choice of pasta to the water (ours is Pappardelle) and cook according to the packet instructions.
  • While the pasta is boiling, prepare a large fry pan for mixing!
  • Next add a cup of full cream milk to your sauce and stir through then put it back on the stove for 5 minutes.
  • Finally, place a frypan on the stove at a low heat, and add a generous spoonful (or two!) of Bolognese sauce, covering the base.
  • Next, add the strained pasta into the pan along with a cup of pasta water.
  • Mix this through until the pasta is completely lathered before adding another generous amount of authentic Bolognese sauce and mix again.
  • E ora si mangia, Vincenzo’s Plate….Enjoy!

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