Bolognese Meat Sauce

Yield: about 6 servings

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons pancetta or unsmoked bacon, finely chopped (bacon is a lot cheaper)
• 1 carrot, finely sliced
• 1 stalk celery, finely sliced
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 12 ounces lean ground beef
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2/3 cup red wine
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 (4 ounce) can plum tomatoes, chopped with their juice
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

Instructions

1. Heat butter and oil in pan and add onion. Cook over moderate heat for 3 to 4 minutes.
2. Add pancetta or bacon and cook until the onion is translucent.
3. Stir in carrot, celery and garlic and cook for 3 to 4 minutes longer.
4. Add beef and crumble it into the vegetables with a fork. Stir until meat loses its red color and season with salt and pepper.
5. Pour in the wine, raise heat slightly and cook until the liquid evaporates, 3 to 4 minutes.
6. Add the milk, and cook until it evaporates.
7. Stir in the tomatoes with their juice and the herbs. Bring the sauce to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer, uncovered for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
8. Correct the seasonings before serving.

Attribution

Posted by GourmetGal at recipegoldmine.com.