Ragù alla bolognese

Ingredients

• 400 g coarsely minced beef
• 150 g fresh (unsmoked) pork pancetta, sliced
• ½ onion (about 60 g)
• 1 carrot (about 60 g)
• 1 celery stalk (about 60 g)
• 1 glass red or white wine
• 200 g tomato passata
• 1 tbsp double-concentrated tomato purée
• 1 glass whole milk (optional)
• Light meat or vegetable stock
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Method

1. In a heavy pot 24–26 cm across, melt the minced or finely chopped pancetta with the oil.
2. Add the onion, carrot and celery, finely chopped by knife (not in a blender), and soften slowly over medium-low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon; the onion must not burn.
3. Raise the heat, add the meat and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring carefully, until it sizzles.
4. Pour in the wine and let it evaporate completely, until you can no longer smell it.
5. Add the tomato concentrate and passata, pour in a cup of hot stock (or water) and simmer gently, covered, for about 2 hours (up to 3), adding hot stock as needed.
6. Halfway through you may add the milk and let it be fully absorbed.
7. Finally season with salt and pepper. The ragù should be dark orange, thick and creamy.

Tips

• This is the recipe of the Accademia Italiana della Cucina deposited at the Bologna Chamber of Commerce on 20 April 2023.
• Traditionally beef skirt (cartella) was used; collagen-rich forequarter cuts such as shin, shoulder or brisket can replace it.
• Permitted variants: about 60 % beef and 40 % pork (loin or coppa), knife-chopped meat, flat or rolled pancetta, a hint of nutmeg. Not permitted: veal, smoked pancetta, pork alone, garlic, rosemary, parsley or other herbs and spices, brandy instead of wine, flour.
• The ragù may be enriched with chicken livers and hearts, skinned pork sausage, peas or dried porcini.
• In Bologna it is served with fresh egg tagliatelle and used for lasagne, not with spaghetti.

Related topics

🍝 Bolognese sauce · 🫒 Olive oil · 🥛 Milk · 🍷 Red wine · 🍷 White wine · Tagliatelle

Sources

• Accademia Italiana della Cucina — Ricetta aggiornata del tradizionale ragù alla bolognese (depositata il 20 aprile 2023)

Servings: 6

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