Easy Bolognese that kids and adults love
Do you guys adore Bolognese? Then you're in for a treat. This sauce is perfect, and we love serving it with pasta or gnocchi, and we love making lasagna too. This beautiful beef meat ragu is divine and these are the top reasons why we adore it:
- rich, creamy, luscious, and delicious sauce
- simple to make and beginner-friendly
- kids and adults love it
- feel free to store it in the fridge or freezer
- perfect for any day of the year
We have a delicious meatless Lentil Bolognese on the blog, which can be perfect for a lovely plant-based meal.
Essential ingredients
These are the essential ingredients to make the most delicious Bolognese sauce.
Vegetables - use onion, celery, and carrots. This is called soffrito, and it's essential for bolognese. Add some garlic for that extra flavor.
Meat - use ground beef or a mixture of ground beef (80%) and ground pork (20%).
BAM Spices - we used a fantastic spice mix called BAM Spices Sugo & Bolognese. This spice mix has spices like sweet paprika, garlic, salt, oregano, pepper, rosemary, basil, cumin, and parsley. If you can't get these spices in your country, feel free to use a mixture of oregano, rosemary, and bay leaf.
Canned tomatoes - diced tomatoes are perfect in this recipe as they become soft when cooking and add a lovely texture and acidity to the dish.
Wine - use white wine like Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay. Always add wine to the sauce when it's on high heat for the alcohol to evaporate.
Beef broth - adds additional flavor. Substitute with water.
Milk - the milk will add a subtle dairy flavor and sweetness. It will make the sauce creamy too.
How to make this bolognese sauce at home
Making bolognese sauce at home is simple. It's primarily hands-free since your stove will do most of the cooking. Remember, each minute counts when it comes to bolognese, so leave it to cook for long enough to develop that fantastic flavor. You can find the whole recipe with the ingredient list below. Here's a short overview of the recipe for easier preparation.
- Sauté the veggies and meat in a large pan. Allow the meat to brown.
- Add the tomato paste and spices.
- Pour in the wine and cook on high heat for the alcohol to evaporate.
- Add the beef stock (or water) and milk.
- Cook covered for 45 minutes.
- Then cook uncovered for 25 minutes to get that creamy, luscious sauce.
- Serve.
Storing and freezing
Feel free to store or freeze this Beef Bolognese Sauce. This way, you can always have some sauce ready to defrost and enjoy a quick meal any day of the week.
Keep the cooked Bolognese sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Before serving, reheat.
We can freeze the Bolognese too. Place in freezer bags or an airtight container. Keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. Defrost, then reheat well in a pan on the stove or in a microwave.
Try these delicious ground meat recipes for your next dinner
METHOD
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sauté the vegetables
Place a large pan (preferably cast iron) with olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 6 - 8 minutes, then add the garlic and ground beef. Pan-fry for 5 minutes over high heat or until the meat becomes brown and slightly cooked. Reduce the heat, add tomato paste and BAM Spices Sugo in Bolognese (if you can't get it in your country, use oregano, rosemary, and bay leaf), and continue to cook for 2 - 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
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bolognese sauce
Increase the heat and add the wine. Cook for 2 - 3 minutes for the alcohol to evaporate, then add the diced tomatoes, beef stock, and milk. Stir, cover with a lid, and cook for 45 minutes. Uncover, and continue to cook for 25 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
TipFeel free to cook the covered bolognese sauce for up to two and a half hours. The longer the sauce cooks, the more flavor it develops. -
serve
Serve the bolognese sauce with cooked pasta or gnocchi, or use it in lasagna. Optionally sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese before serving.
