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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Meat & Seafood / italian bolognese sauce

    italian bolognese sauce

    Mar 10, 2016 · 6 Comments

    italian bolognese sauce | The Baking Fairy

    I'm so excited to be sharing this with you guys today! This is my mamma's Italian bolognese sauce, and it's an absolute staple in our household. It's perfect simply served atop pasta with a generous sprinkling of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, but we also use this for lasagna and pasta bakes and stuffed shells. We even went to a restaurant recently that used bolognese sauce on their pizza in place of regular tomato sauce! It was a delicious pizza, in case you were wondering 😉 Long story short, this sauce is so easy and scrumptious, it'll become your new favorite thing!

    italian bolognese sauce | The Baking Fairy

    I did actually blog this recipe in 2013, but well, I think we can all correctly guess that the pictures on that post aren't very pretty 😉 I'm just gonna go ahead and scrap the old version for this new-and-improved one! This recipe is actually deceivingly simple, which is probably why it's so good. No fussing, no weird ingredients, just some basics cooked with a lot of love to create one perfect bolognese! I'm often asked if the only herb/spice in this sauce is bay leaves, and why there aren't more. Contrary to popular belief, Italian cuisine is not super herby or super spiced like their American adaptations. Of course, feel free to add some parsley or oregano or whatever in here, but honestly I don't think the sauce needs it!

    italian bolognese sauce | The Baking Fairy

    italian bolognese sauce | The Baking Fairy

    In my household, we actually call bolognese sauce "ragu," but I feel like if I call it that, people will think I'm talking about the jarred pasta sauce. Haha! We normally make this with half ground beef and half ground pork {not sausage, just plain ground pork}, which makes this meat sauce super tender and flavorful. That being said, I've also used ground turkey in place of the pork before, and ground veal is fantastic too! The trouble with veal is just being able to find it. I encourage you to experiment and see which mix you like best! Bolognese sauce is such a staple in Italian cuisine, and I hope this becomes your go-to recipe!

    italian bolognese sauce | The Baking Fairy

    Want to use this Bolognese sauce in other recipes? Check out my Lasagna Pasta Bake, Pasta al Forno, Zucchini Lasagna Pasta Bake, and Zucchini Lasagna. Happy cooking!

    5.0 from 1 reviews
    italian bolognese sauce
     
    Save Print
    Prep time
    15 mins
    Cook time
    1 hour
    Total time
    1 hour 15 mins
     
    Author: Valentina | The Baking Fairy
    Serves: 8
    Ingredients
    • 2 carrots
    • ½ white onion
    • 2 celery stalks
    • 1 lb ground meat {I did half beef and half pork}
    • 2 15oz cans of tomato sauce
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • salt and pepper, to taste
    • pinch of sugar
    • Parmesan cheese, for serving
    Instructions
    1. Rinse and dry your carrots and celery stalks, and roughly chop, along with the onion. Add all of the veggies to a food processor, and pulse until finely ground.
    2. Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick pot over medium-high heat. Add in the veggies, and let them cook for a few minutes, until they smell fragrant.
    3. Add in your ground meat, and break it up as you stir. Season with some salt and pepper, and cook until browned.
    4. Drain any excess fat, then add in the two cans of tomato sauce, plus about 1 can’s worth of water. Add in the bay leaf and the sugar. Stir well, then turn the heat down to a low simmer.
    5. Cover, and let the sauce cook on very low heat for at least 1 hour, or more time if you have it. Remember to stir occasionally to prevent the meat from sticking to the bottom.
    6. When ready, cook your favorite pasta according to package directions, and serve with a generous scoop of the bolognese on top. Don’t forget to top with freshly grated Parmesan!
    3.5.3208

    italian bolognese sauce | The Baking Fairy

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says

      March 10, 2016 at 10:04 am

      You know it's good when it's a family recipe! Especially Italian family recipes! There's nothing quite like a good, comforting bolognese sauce and this one looks spot on!!

      Reply
    2. Caroline says

      March 10, 2016 at 10:29 am

      What kind of noodles did you use in the photos? I love the shape!

      Reply
      • valentina says

        March 11, 2016 at 3:18 pm

        I know, aren't they so fun! I believe they are called Fusilli Lunghi. Basically just curly spaghetti! 🙂

        Reply
    3. grace says

      March 11, 2016 at 8:37 am

      this is very much like my mom's recipe, though she doesn't use a bay leaf and i've never even bought those things. do they really add that much? i'm curious to know! 🙂

      Reply
      • valentina says

        March 11, 2016 at 3:16 pm

        I'm honestly not sure since my mom has always made hers with a bay leaf! I think it just adds a subtle, cozy note to the sauce. If you forgo the bay leaf, then I would advise adding in some parsley or basil instead 🙂

        Reply
    4. Angie says

      September 21, 2021 at 3:50 pm

      Can you freeze this? If so how long will it last?

      Reply

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    Hi! My name is Valentina and I'm The Baking Fairy! Pediatric physician assistant by day and food blogger extraordinaire by night. Full-blooded Italian, but I've lived in Texas for most of my life. I love margaritas, brownies, avocados, and my mamma's homemade pizza. Married to my high school sweetheart (who is ALSO a pediatrician). My mission is to make plant-based cooking fun and delicious, one recipe at a time. I want to show people that vegan food is not just for vegans!

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