Best Wine for Tomato Based Sauces + Classic Bolognese Sauce Recipe
The magic of this classic Bolognese dish happens when beef and fragrant vegetables cook down with wine, tomato paste, and stock. It is the perfect red sauce to top your favorite pasta with. Pair it with a tall glass of wine, and you've got an easy and delicious meal!
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 medium onions , finely diced (about 1½ cups)
- 2 celery stalks , finely diced (about 1 cup)
- 2 carrots , peeled, finely diced (about ¾ cup)
- 6 oz. ground beef (85% lean)
- 6 oz. ground veal
- 3 oz. thinly sliced pancetta , finely chopped
- ½ cup dry red wine
- 2 ½ cups beef stock or chicken stock , divided
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 lb. tagliatelle or fettuccine (preferably fresh egg)
- Finely grated Parmesan (for serving)
Instructions
- Heat up a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the oil, onions, celery, and carrots. Sauté until onions are translucent and veggies are soft, roughly 9 minutes or so.
- Add beef, veal, and pancetta; use the back of a spoon to break up the meat and sauté until browned. This should take 15 minutes. Add in wine, and boil for 1 minute. Make sure to stir often and scrape up the brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Add stock and the tomato paste; stir to blend. Reduce the heat to very low and simmer, stirring occasionally until the flavors come together, 1 ½ hours. Season with salt and pepper.
- Bring the milk to a simmer in a small pan and gradually add to your sauce. Cover the sauce with a lid loosely, and simmer on low heat, stirring occasionally, until the milk is absorbed into the sauce, 45 minutes. You can add more stock, one 1/4 cup at a time to thin if needed.
- Bring a large pasta pot of water to a rolling boil. Add a pinch of salt and your choice of pasta. Cook according to package directions, stirring occasionally to prevent clumping. Continue stirring until the pasta is al dente. Drain. Add your pasta to a large pot and toss to coat. Tip: If the sauce seems a little thick, you can use a little of the pasta water to thin the sauce to your liking.
- Serve with fresh grated parmesan and a piece of toasted garlic bread.
Nutrition
Calories: 683kcal
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!