Beef Bolognese — The Three Hour Version
“Bologna has strict rules about what constitutes a true bolognese. I’m not Bolognese, so I bend the rules a little, but the one rule I keep is time. Bolognese needs to cook long and slow. My version takes about three hours total but only 20 minutes of actual work. Plan ahead and you’ll have the best pasta sauce of your life.”
What You’ll Need
- 500g beef mince (not too lean — 20% fat is ideal)
- 150g chicken livers, finely chopped (optional but traditional and amazing)
- 200g pancetta or smoked bacon, diced
- 1 large onion, finely diced
- 2 medium carrots, finely diced
- 2 celery stalks, finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 200ml dry white wine
- 200ml whole milk
- 1 can whole tomatoes (400g)
- 500ml beef stock
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- Fresh thyme and bay leaves
- Salt, pepper, nutmeg
- Pasta and parmesan to serve
Let’s Cook — Step by Step
- Step 1 — Heat oil in a heavy pot. Cook the pancetta until golden and the fat renders.
- Step 2 — Add onion, carrot, and celery. Cook gently for 12 minutes until softened and sweet.
- Step 3 — Add garlic, cook 1 minute.
- Step 4 — Increase heat. Add beef mince and chicken livers. Cook, stirring, until completely browned. Season with salt and pepper.
- Step 5 — Pour in the wine. Stir and let it bubble until completely evaporated.
- Step 6 — Add milk. Stir and let it bubble away completely — this tenderises the meat.
- Step 7 — Add tomatoes (crushing them), tomato paste, stock, thyme, bay leaves, and a grating of nutmeg.
- Step 8 — Bring to a gentle simmer. The lowest heat your hob can manage. Leave, partially covered, for 2.5–3 hours. Stir occasionally.
- Step 9 — The sauce should be rich, thick, and deep brown. Season generously.
- Step 10 — Serve with tagliatelle or pappardelle. Stir pasta into the sauce in the pan with a splash of pasta water. Never serve bolognese on top — mix it through.
Kitchen Tip: Adding milk to the meat before the tomatoes is traditional and real — it creates tenderness you cannot achieve any other way.
Made with fresh ingredients & kitchen love ♥ — meozmedia.com
