Pasta Alla Bolognese Food

PASTA BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• In a food processor, puree onion, carrots, celery, and garlic into a coarse paste. In a large pan over medium heat, coat pan with oil. Add the pureed veggies and season generously with salt. Bring the pan to a medium-high heat and cook until all the water has evaporated and they become nice and brown, stirring frequently, about 15 to 20 minutes. Be patient, this is where the big flavors develop.
• Add the ground beef and season again generously with salt. BROWN THE BEEF! Brown food tastes good. Don't rush this step. Cook another 15 to 20 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste and cook until brown about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the red wine. Cook until the wine has reduced by half, another 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add water to the pan until the water is about 1 inch above the meat. Toss in the bay leaves and the bundle of thyme and stir to combine everything. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, stirring occasionally. As the water evaporates you will gradually need to add more, about 2 to 3 cups at a time. Don't be shy about adding water during the cooking process, you can always cook it out. This is a game of reduce and add more water. This is where big rich flavors develop. If you try to add all the water in the beginning you will have boiled meat sauce rather than a rich, thick meaty sauce. Stir and TASTE frequently. Season with salt, if needed (you probably will). Simmer for 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
• During the last 30 minutes of cooking, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat to cook the spaghetti. Pasta water should ALWAYS be well salted. Salty as the ocean! TASTE IT! If your pasta water is under seasoned it doesn't matter how good your sauce is, your complete dish will always taste under seasoned. When the water is at a rolling boil add the spaghetti and cook for 1 minute less than it calls for on the package. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water.
• While the pasta is cooking remove 1/2 of the ragu from the pot and reserve.
• Drain the pasta and add to the pot with the remaining ragu. Stir or toss the pasta to coat with the sauce. Add some of the reserved sauce, if needed, to make it about an even ratio between pasta and sauce. Add the reserved pasta cooking water and cook the pasta and sauce together over a medium heat until the water has reduced. Turn off the heat and give a big sprinkle of Parmigiano and a generous drizzle of the high quality finishing olive oil. Toss or stir vigorously. Divide the pasta and sauce into serving bowls or 1 big pasta bowl. Top with remaining grated Parmigiano. Serve immediately.

AUTHENTIC RAGù ALLA BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Mix together the ground meat and season with salt and pepper.
• In a large heavy saucepan over medium heat, cook the pancetta until the fat has melted.
• Add the chopped onion and continue to cook until it is translucent.
• Add the carrot, celery and bay leaves and continue cooking until the vegetables begin to soften and brown.
• Raise the heat to very high and add the ground meats, and cook stirring with a wooden spoon to break up the meat.
• Cook until lightly browned.
• Add the wine and cook until it has evaporated.
• Puree the tomatoes and add to the pot reducing the heat to low.
• Simmer until thickened for 2 hours. (If the sauce becomes too thick you can thin it with a little beef broth.)
• Add the milk and continue to cook over low heat for another hour or two until thickened.
• Serve on top of fresh egg tagliatelle with a sprinkle of grated cheese.

PASTA ALLA BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and cook onion, carrot and celery, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in wine and cook 1 minute. Add ground beef and cook, stirring occasionally, until almost done. Stir in Sauce. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until ground beef is done. Serve over hot penne.
• Cost per recipe*: $5.91.
• Cost per serving*: $1.48.
• *Based on average retail prices at national supermarkets.

MUSHROOM RAGù ALLA BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• In a medium heavy bottom skillet or dutch oven over medium heat, add the olive oil and heat until shimmering. Add the mushrooms, cooking gently for 5 - 7 minutes until they reduce by half and release their juices. Add the minced garlic to the mushrooms and cook for an additional minute before adding the chopped onions. Cook for an another 2 minutes.
• Add the celery and carrots to the pot and stir well. Cook for 2 - 3 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Add the wine (or stock) to the pot to deglaze the bottom and bring to a gentle simmer (reducing the heat if necessary) for 15 minutes until fully reduced. Add the salt, pepper, chili flakes (if using), basil, oregano, marjoram, and thyme along with the milk. Bring back up to a simmer and reduce the liquid once more (12 minutes).
• Add the pureed canned tomatoes to the pot and stir well, making sure to scrape up anything sticking on the bottom. Bring to a low simmer and then reduce to the lowest heat, mostly covering (leave a small gap) and cook for 3 hours.
• After 3 hours, taste and adjust spices. Use in lasagna, serve immediately with pasta, or freeze in small tupperware for quick weenight dinners.

SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring, until browned and the fat is rendered, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the onions, carrots and celery and cook, stirring, until soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, salt, pepper, bay leaves, thyme, oregano, cinnamon, and nutmeg and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the beef and sausages, and cook, stirring, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the wine and cook, stirring, to deglaze the pan and remove any browned bits sticking to the bottom of the pan, and until half of the liquid is evaporated, about 2 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes and their juices, the tomato sauce, beef broth, and sugar and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, to keep the sauce from sticking to the bottom of the pan, until the sauce is thickened and flavorful, about 1 1/2 hours. Add the cream, butter, and parsley, stir well, and simmer for 2 minutes. Discard the bay leaves and adjust the seasoning, to taste. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm until ready to serve.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and return the water to a low boil. Cook, stirring occasionally to prevent the noodles from sticking, until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain in a colander.
• Add the pasta to the sauce, tossing to coat. Add 1/2 cup of the cheese and toss to blend. Divide among pasta bowls and serve with the cheese passed tableside. (Alternatively, toss only the desired portion of pasta with a bit of the sauce at a time in a serving bowl, reserving the remainder for another meal.)

AUTHENTIC BOLOGNESE SAUCE (SUGO ALLA BOLOGNESE)

Steps:

• Place the chopped onions, carrots, celery, and garlic clove in a food processor. Pulse the motor until the vegetables are finely chopped.
• Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy saucepan set over medium heat. Add the chopped vegetables and chopped bacon (or pancetta, which is an Italian bacon). Stir in the salt, pepper, basil, oregano, and thyme. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the ground veal (or beef) to the pot with the vegetables. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until the meat is no longer pink, about 6 minutes.
• Stir in the wine, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, and the milk (or cream). Add the pinch of ground nutmeg.
• Reduce the heat to low and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for 1 1/2 hours.
• Serve over spaghetti, cooked al dente, and pass the grated Parmesan cheese.
• Mangia!

VINCENT PRICE SPAGHETTI ALLA BOLOGNESE (SPAGHETTI W/ MEAT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a heavy skillet heat together the butter and oil, then add the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
• Add the pieces of bacon, chopped carrot, and celery, and saute over medium heat until lightly browned, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add the coarsely ground beef and stir until the meat is coated with fat, then add the minced chicken livers, stir, and cook until the meat browns evenly, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste, wine, beef stock, bay leaf, and lemon peel, then season with salt and freshly ground pepper and the crushed garlic.
• Cover and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove the bay leaf and lemon peel, then allow to simmer uncovered until the sauce slightly thickens.
• During the last minutes of the sauce simmering, cook the spaghetti according to package directions, about 7 to 10 minutes; drain well.
• Just before you serve the sauce, add the cream or half and half, stir well, and heat through.
• Place the cooked spaghetti on a warm platter and dot with the 4 tablespoons butter and sprinkle with the 4 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan.
• Serve the pasta either with the meat sauce on the side or in the center of the platter with the pasta around it.
• Pass with additional freshly grated Parmesan, and enjoy!