Classic Bolognese Sauce Aka Ragu Food

RAGU BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil and butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion, celery and carrots until soft. Add veal, pork, beef and pancetta, and cook until evenly brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Pour in milk, and cook until liquid has evaporated, about 15 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce and beef broth. Cover, and simmer 2 1/2 hours.

CLASSIC RAGU BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add onions, celery, and carrots. Saute until soft, 8-10 minutes. Add beef, veal, and pancetta; saute, breaking up with the back of a spoon, until browned, about 15 minutes. Add wine; boil 1 minute, stirring often and scraping up browned bits. Add 2 1/2 cups stock and tomato paste; stir to blend. Reduce heat to very low and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until flavors meld, 1 1/2 hours. Season with salt and pepper.
• Bring milk to a simmer in a small saucepan; gradually add to sauce. Cover sauce with lid slightly ajar and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until milk is absorbed, about 45 minutes, adding more stock by 1/4-cupfuls to thin if needed. DO AHEAD: Ragu can be made 2 days ahead. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Rewarm before continuing.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season with salt; add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until 1 minute before al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water. Transfer ragu to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pasta and toss to coat. Stir in some of the reserved pasta water by tablespoonfuls if sauce seems dry. Divide pasta among warm plates. Serve with Parmesan.

CLASSIC RAGU BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add onions, celery, and carrots. Saute until soft, 8-10 minutes. Add beef, veal, and pancetta; saute, breaking up with the back of a spoon, until browned, about 15 minutes. Add wine; boil 1 minute, stirring often and scraping up browned bits. Add 2 1/2 cups of stock and tomato paste; stir to blend. Reduce heat to very low and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until flavors meld, 1 1/2 hours. Season with salt and pepper.
• Bring milk to a simmer in a small saucepan; gradually add to sauce. Cover with lid slightly ajar and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until milk is absorbed, about 45 minutes, adding more stock by 1/4-cupfuls to thin if needed. DO AHEAD: Ragu can be made 2 days ahead. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Rewarm befor continuing.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season with salt; add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until 1 minute before al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water. Transfer ragu to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pasta and toss to coat. Stir in some of the reserved pasta water by tablespoonfuls if sauce seems dry. Divide pasta among warm plates. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan.

BEST BOLOGNESE SAUCE (RAGU)

Steps:

• Saute the onions, carrots, celery and bacon over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionaly until veggies are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Add the ground meat and cook. Stir until all lumps are broken up and all traces of red are gone.
• Add the wine and/or tomato juice from the whole tomatoes, raising the heat slightly. Cook until most of the liquid is evaporated, about 5 minutes.
• Crush the tomatoes and add to the pot, stir and add the stock.
• Turn heat to low and cook at a simmer, stirring occasionaly to break up any remaining clumps.
• After an hour or so add salt and pepper.
• Cook for at least another hour, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the sauce is very thick. This sauce may be frozen at this point -reheat before completing.
• Add the cream (1/2 & 1/2 or milk if ok, too) and cook for another 15 to 30 minutes. Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed.
• Serve with any dried or fresh pasta (I think fettucine is the best)topping with the fresh parmesan. Makes a great lasagne as well.

CLASSIC BOLOGNESE SAUCE (A.K.A. RAGU)

Steps:

• In order to prevent the ragu from reducing too quickly, use the heaviest, deepest pot that you own.
• Melt butter& oil and saute onion& garlic over medium heat until just translucent.
• Add celery& carrot and cook gently for about 2 minutes.
• Add the ground beef, crumbling it in the pot with a fork.
• Stir in salt.
• Cook only until the meat loses its raw, red colour.
• Add the wine, turn heat up to medium high and cook, stirring occasionally, until all the wine evaporates (1/2 hour to 45 minutes).
• Turn the heat down to medium, add the milk& nutmeg and cook, stirring frequently, until all the milk evaporates (1/2 hour TO 45 minutes).
• Add oregano, pepper& tomatoes and stir thoroughly.
• When the tomatoes have started to boil, turn the heat down until the sauce cooks at the laziest simmer- just the occasional bubble.
• Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for at least 4 hours (5 hours is better).
• If you can't watch the sauce for such a long stretch, you can interrupt this simmering time- but DO complete it in the same day!

ALL DAY RAGU (BOLOGNESE)

Steps:

• Ensure the minced meats are at room temperature, leave defrost overnight if necessary its best to do this after you have done the tomatoes.
• Tomato Preparation (the night before):.
• Cut a light cross in the smooth end of the tomatoes. In a large pot of rapidly boiling water, quickly place a tomato in and let sit for no longer than 30 seconds to blanche the skin. Remove and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking process. You should now be able to gently peel the skins off the tomato.
• Next, quarter the tomato and spoon the pulp into a sieve over a bowl. For each tomato that is pulped add a couple of light pinches of salt over the pulp in the sieve. Let the pulp drain overnight in the fridge to remove all the juice in the bowl.
• On the day of cooking dice the tomato flesh and set aside for during the cooking process.
• The day of the Ragu.
• Pre heat an oven to 150°C.
• Dice the onions.
• Heat a good cast iron caserole dish on the stove and add the olive
• Fry off the onion in the caserole dish until they are well caramelized.
• Add the pork mince first and cook off until brown.
• Once the pork is browned add the veal and cook altogether well.
• Add the tomato paste to the meat/onion mix and cook off briefly for a minute or two.
• Add the diced tomato flesh and stir in well, at the same time add the juice collected overnight.
• Stir well and cover the caserole dish then place in the pre heated oven.
• Wait at least 4 hours before removing and giving gentle stir. Test for liquid consistency and add water as necessary to reach your preferred level. This is entirely subjective and it depends how "soupy" you prefer your ragu. Now is the perfect time to test your seasoning levels, add salt as necessary however most of the salt needed is added during the tomato preparation.
• 2 hours before dishing time add the fresh herbs and stir in well and taste test.
• 1/2 hour before dishing remove and do a final liquid check and taste test.
• Dish up and enjoy. This is ideally served on fresh home made pasta (1 large egg per 125g fine plain flour) you should have ample time to make this while the ragu is cooking.

BOLOGNESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Sauté garlic in the olive oil. Discard when lightly brown.
• Add ground sausage and beef. Using the edge of a spatula, chop to break meats apart while browning. When cooked through, add both cans of tomatoes, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, sprigs of basil and a few grinds of black pepper.
• Simmer for at least 2 1/2 to 3 hours with cover jarred, adding water as needed. Stir occasionally to prevent bottom from burning.
• When ready to eat, briskly boil 4 to 6 quarts of water in a large pot with a tablespoon of Kosher salt. Add pasta, stirring initially to prevent sticking. When water reaches a second boil, reduce heat but still maintaining a boil. Cook pasta al dente, firm and chewy, about 12 minutes. Sample pasta for proper texture earlier to ensure pasta isn't overcooked. When ready, drain in a strainer.
• Discard basil. Adjust for salt. Scoop a ladle or two of the sauce on the bottom of the pot used to cook the pasta. Mix strained pasta in the pot with a large spoon. When coated, place in a serving platter or individual bowls and top with lots of sauce. Pass grated or shredded parmigiana cheese.
• Refrigerate or freeze leftover sauce.