Bolognese Pasta Sauce

I used the last of my summer garden tomatoes to make Bolognese Pasta Sauce. I love this recipe because it makes enough so that I can serve it for dinner and still freeze some for dinner on another day. This sauce is thick and chunky and full of flavor. It simmers for a few hours, which makes the house smell so good. Who can resist a big plate of pasta with THIS delicious homemade sauce?

What is Bolognese?

Bolognese is a ragu, which is an Italian sauce that is slow-cooked and consists mostly of meat. Bolognese can be creamy with the addition or milk or cream. It originates from Bologna, Italy. This sauce is traditionally used to make many Italian dishes, including lasagna and tagliatelle. Italian families make this sauce with pasta and serve it for large family dinners.

My recipe includes heart vegetables, which adds richness and depth to this sauce. There is nothing that smells more heavenly than a big pot of Bolognese Pasta Sauce as it simmers slowly over low heat for an hour. It is simply the best! It will be thick and rich and so very flavorful.

Bolognese Pasta Sauce Recipe

What’s needed?

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 slices of thick cut smoky bacon, sliced into thin strips
• 1/2 of an extra large sweet onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 pound mild Italian sausage
• 1- 8 ounce package of mushrooms, sliced
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1- 6 ounce can of tomato paste
• 2 quarts of fresh tomatoes, skinned and cored (or 2- 28 ounce cans crushed tomatoes)
• 1 teaspoon each of basil, oregano, and parsley
• 1 teaspoon salt and pepper
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup of white wine

How to make Bolognese Pasta Sauce?

• In a large dutch oven, add the olive oil, bacon, garlic and onions. Saute over medium heat until bacon is browned.

• Remove bacon and onions from the pan and set aside. Add the ground beef and bulk sausage to the pan and brown until cooked through.
• Drain the excess fat from the pan. Add the bacon and onions back to the pan. Add the mushrooms and celery and cook for 5 more minutes.

• Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and spices. Simmer on low for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. The sauce will thicken as it cooks.
• Add the carrots and the white wine. Simmer for another hour, stirring occasionally.

Bolognese Pasta Sauce is thick, chunky and loaded with rich, deep flavor! The recipe makes enough for two meals for 5-6 people. I served it with angel hair pasta, a crisp garden salad and a glass of white wine. Perfect!

Allow the remaining sauce to cool completely. Ladle it into a gallon size freezer bag and freeze for use later. It takes a bit of time to make this amazing sauce, but it pays off in flavor and richness. Enjoy!