how to make bolognese sauce

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup finely diced onion
• 1/2 cup finely diced celery
• 1/2 cup finely diced carrot
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• salt
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 1/2 cups 2% milk
• 2 cups white
• 1 (28 ounce) can whole italian plum tomatoes (preferably san marzano)
• 2 cups water, or as needed

Recipe

Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs 20 mins

Ready Time: 3 hrs 35 mins


• melt butter with olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat; cook onion, celery, and carrot with pinch of salt until onion turns translucent, about 5 minutes. stir ground beef into vegetables and cook, stirring constantly until meat is crumbly and no longer pink, about 5 minutes. season meat mixture with 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and nutmeg.
• pour milk into ground beef mixture and bring to a simmer. cook, stirring often, until most of the milk has evaporated and bottom of pan is still slightly saucy, about 5 minutes.
• raise heat to medium high and pour white into ground beef mixture; cook and stir until white has mostly evaporated, about 5 more minutes.
• pour tomatoes with juice into a large mixing bowl and crush them with your fingers until they resemble a slightly chunky sauce. pour tomatoes into sauce; fill can with 2 cups water and add to sauce. bring to a simmer.
• reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring often, until mixture cooks down into a thick sauce, at least 3 hours but preferably 4 to 6 hours. skim fat from top of sauce if desired. if sauce is too thick or too hot on the bottom, add a little more water. taste and adjust seasonings before serving.