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Weeknight Bolognese

November 1, 2011 by 7 Comments

There are few things I like better on this planet than a good, warm, comforting bolognese sauce.  The only problem is, usually you need either a terrific restaurant or all day in order to get some.  One of my favorite, favorite bolognese recipes is the one I make in my slow cooker (see previous reference to the All Day issue.)  It’s easy, it’s delicious, it’s delightful, it’s de-lovely, but it’s not something you can whip up when the whim strikes you.

And until I got my mitts on Ina Garten’s new cookbook, HOW EASY IS THAT, I would not have believed it was possible to ever be able to make a speedy bolognese sauce that didn’t taste like you threw it together in 10 minutes.  However, they don’t call her Contessa for nothing, because her Weeknight Bolognese recipe?  It’s the real deal.  Rich, delicious, perfect bolognese sauce that tastes like you spend all day on it, when you really spent, oh, 30 minutes or so.  It’s the perfect storm of deliciousness and not spending forever in the kitchen.

It’s bolognese sauce on a Wednesday night.  It’s the BEST.

Weeknight Bolognese, with heartfelt thanks to Ina Garten

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Weeknight Bolognese

Weeknight Bolognese

Ingredients

2 tablespoons good olive oil, plus extra to cook the pasta
1 pound lean ground sirloin
4 teaspoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/4 cups dry red wine, divided
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, preferably San Marzano
2 tablespoons tomato paste
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3/4 pound dried pasta, such as orecchiette or small shells
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves, lightly packed
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

Directions

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground sirloin and cook, crumbling the meat with a wooden spoon, for 5 to 7 minutes, until the meat has lost its pink color and has started to brown. Stir in the garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 more minute. Pour 1 cup of the wine into the skillet and stir to scrape up any browned bits. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper, stirring until combined. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil, add a tablespoon of salt, a splash of oil, and the pasta, and cook according to the directions on the box.
While the pasta cooks, finish the sauce. Add the nutmeg, basil, cream, and the remaining 1/4 cup wine to the sauce and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened. When the pasta is cooked, drain and pour into a large serving bowl. Add the sauce and 1/2 cup Parmesan and toss well. Serve hot with Parmesan on the side.

Filed Under: beef, dinner, pasta

Comments

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  1. Joanne says:
    November 2, 2011 at 12:52 am

    I definitely don't remember my mother ever attempting meat sauce on a weeknight cause if she had…we would ahve been eating dinner at ten pm!

    I'm going to pass on this recipe to her. So she can make the family happy every day of the week, not just Sunday!

    Reply
  2. Steph@PlainChicken.com says:
    November 2, 2011 at 1:52 am

    I saw her make this on Food Network a few weekends ago – it has been on my list ever since. Looks amazing! I need to make this ASAP

    Reply
  3. Rachel says:
    November 2, 2011 at 2:33 am

    Looks delish! My mom's meat sauce consisted of ground beef and Ragu….but I loved it!

    Reply
  4. Becki's Whole Life says:
    November 2, 2011 at 10:57 am

    This looks wonderful. Pure comfort good and the red wine takes it up a few notches:-)

    Reply
  5. Cornelll says:
    November 3, 2011 at 11:42 am

    This one looke good. But I think I would prefer the slow cooker recipe

    Reply
  6. FramedCooks says:
    November 8, 2011 at 2:16 am

    The slow cooker one is definitely fab…but those nights when you come home and just get a yearning, those nights are MADE for this recipe. :)

    Reply
  7. Anonymous says:
    December 14, 2011 at 9:06 pm

    Just pinned this recipe on http://www.pinterest.com Looking forward to trying it!…Kari

    Reply

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