Bolognese Sauce

What is Bolognese Sauce made of?

Bolognese sauce is a thick sauce that is traditionally made with a mixture of ground beef, ground pork, canned tomatoes, tomato paste and crushed tomatoes (or substitute with tomato puree) as the primary ingredients. The beef and pork are cooked together until they are very tender, and then the tomatoes are added to the meat mixture. Additional flavorings come from chopped vegetables, bay leaf, celery and carrot, finely chopped onions and garlic. Beef bouillon powder is used to enhance the beef flavors (you can replace beef bouillon with beef stock), and balsamic vinegar and milk are used in small amounts. I use thyme, oregano, salt, pepper, brown sugar and sage flakes as seasonings.

This meat sauce / tomato sauce is then served with a pasta of your choice!

What is the best pasta to serve with Bolognese sauce?

Most pastas will do a good job (fettucine, pappardelle and penne are all solid choices and spaghetti is a popular one) but to Italians, authentic Bolognese sauce is served with tagliatelle. Tagliatelle is a type of pasta that is long and flat, and the flatness lets it soak up the sauce and scoop up the meat better than a thinner noodle like spaghetti would. Tagliatelle is traditionally made with egg, but you can also find recipes that are made without egg.

What kind of meat is best for Bolognese?

A mix of beef and pork is the meat combination used in traditional Bolognese recipes. It is possible to use beef alone, a mixture of ground beef and ground veal, or pork or lamb alone as they tend to hold more flavor and are moister than beef.

My personal recommendation is to combine beef and pork in the same measurements. The beef makes it taste just like traditional Bolognese while adding pork will prevent the beef from becoming too dry, as pork is more moist than beef. Using a mixture of ground beef and ground veal is also quite nice, as the veal gives flavor variety and greater moistness to the beef.

What is the difference between Bolognese sauce and spaghetti sauce?

Traditional Bolognese sauce is a specific kind of spaghetti sauce that is based on having heavy helpings of ground meat (ground beef traditionally) and not as much tomato. Spaghetti sauce is a catch-all, blanket term for any any tomato-based sauce and a spaghetti sauce may contain meat or it may not (whereas Bolognese sauce has to contain ground meat). Bolognese sauce also tends to be thicker and more hearty than your average spaghetti sauce but not necessarily.

The history of these two sauces also differs. Bolognese sauce originated in Italy, while spaghetti sauce was created in the United States.

Why is it called Bolognese Sauce?

It's a case of something being lost in translation. Bolognese sauce is eaten throughout Italy but it never has been called that in Italy, where it is merely known as a variation of ragu. During World War 2, American and British soldiers were stationed in the town of Bologna where they ate the ragu there and were very fond of the taste. When they got home they knew they had to recreate such a great recipe themselves except using spaghetti noodles as those were more common in America.

Even though Bologna is not the birthplace of Bolognese sauce, those soldiers came to associate the sauce with the town of Bologna (where they ate it) and once they returned home they would always refer to the ragu they ate in Italy as Bolognese sauce and the name stuck as meaty pasta sauces became popular in the United States and England.

How do you make a Bolognese tastier or more flavorful?

• Adding some red wine will give the sauce a deeper flavor.
• You can also add in some additional beef bouillon if you want to give the sauce a stronger, more beefy flavor.
• Another way to make the sauce taste better is to brown the ground meat before adding it to the sauce. This will add a depth of flavor that you wouldn't get if you just added the meat raw.
• You can add some herbs and spices to the sauce to give it even more flavor. We already included basil and thyme to the base recipe, but you can also add oregano or fresh rosemary.
• I use whole milk in my recipe but if you want to make the Bolognese sauce richer you can substitute whole milk for heavy cream.
• Lastly, as I always say, the longer you let the sauce simmer the more flavorful it will be. The recipe calls for 45 minutes of simmering but doing so for an hour or even longer will allow all the flavors to meld together and create a truly delicious sauce.

What to Serve with Bolognese Sauce

Bolognese sauce is a delicious and hearty dish that can be served with pasta or on its own. If you are looking for a delicious way to serve Bolognese sauce, try pairing it with some of these recipes:

• Rigatoni with Bolognese Sauce: This is a classic Italian dish that pairs perfectly with Bolognese sauce.
• Pizza with Bolognese Sauce: This is a fun and easy way to enjoy Bolognese sauce.
• Spaghetti and Meatballs with Bolognese Sauce: This is another classic Italian dish that is perfect for satisfying your hunger.
• Lasagna with Bolognese Sauce
• Fresh parmesan – Sprinkling some grated parmesan cheese over your pasta recipes is always a good call. Or drop in a Parmesan rind and let it melt as the Bolognese sauce cooks.
• Red or white wine.
• Leftover sauce can be used inside of a lasagna or sloppy joes.

What are some Alternative Cooking Methods for cooking Bolognese sauce such as a slow cooker, instant pot, etc

–How to cook Bolognese sauce in a slow cooker / crock pot

Place the beef, pork, and veal into a slow cooker.

In a bowl, mix together the tomatoes, tomato paste, wine, garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Pour this mixture over the beef mixture.

Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours.

-How to cook Bolognese sauce in an instant pot

Pour the olive oil into the Instant Pot and set it to “sauté.”

Add the ground beef, pork, and veal to the Instant Pot and cook until browned.

Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, wine, garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper.

Close the lid of the Instant Pot and set it to “pressure cooker.” Cook for 35 minutes.

Release the pressure of the Instant Pot and serve.

Can I make Bolognese Sauce ahead of time?

Absolutely! In fact, Bolognese sauce tastes even better when it's had a chance to sit and meld all of the flavors together. If you're making Bolognese sauce ahead of time, simply cook the sauce until it's finished, then let it cool slightly. Transfer the sauce to an airtight container and store it in the fridge.

How to Store and Reheat Leftover Bolognese Sauce.

How long is Bolognese Sauce good for? in the fridge, freezer, etc.

One option is to simply freeze the sauce in an airtight container. When you're ready to eat it again, thaw it overnight in the fridge and then reheat it on the stove over low heat. This method is great if you want to portion out the sauce and have it ready to go for quick and easy meals later on. You can also freeze Bolognese sauce for up to 3 months.

To reheat, simply thaw overnight in the fridge and then heat on the stove over low heat until warmed through.

Another option is to refrigerate the sauce in an airtight container for up to four days. Wrap it tightly or store it in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out. Reheat it on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally, until it's warmed through. You may need to add a splash of water or beef broth to thin out the sauce if it's too thick. Give it a taste and adjust the seasoning.