Italian Tagliatelle Bolognese Ingredients (Serves 4-6):
For the Bolognese Sauce:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork for extra richness)
1/2 cup dry red wine
1 (14 oz) can crushed tomatoes (or 2 cups fresh tomatoes, chopped)
1/2 cup whole milk or heavy cream
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
For the Tagliatelle:
12 oz fresh tagliatelle pasta (or 8 oz dried tagliatelle)
Salt, for pasta water
Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
👩🍳 Instructions:
1. Prepare the Bolognese Sauce:
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrot, and celery. Sauté for about 5-7 minutes, or until the vegetables soften and the onion turns translucent.
Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
Add the ground beef (or beef and pork mix) to the pan. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned and cooked through (about 8-10 minutes). Drain any excess fat.
Pour in the red wine and let it cook for 3-4 minutes, allowing it to reduce slightly.
Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, and basil. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook uncovered for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to develop. If the sauce thickens too much, you can add a little water or more wine to reach the desired consistency.
Add the milk or heavy cream, stir to combine, and let it simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
2. Cook the Tagliatelle:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the tagliatelle and cook according to the package instructions (about 2-4 minutes for fresh pasta or 8-10 minutes for dried pasta).
Once cooked, reserve a cup of pasta water and then drain the pasta.
3. Combine and Serve:
Toss the cooked tagliatelle into the Bolognese sauce, adding a bit of reserved pasta water if necessary to help coat the pasta evenly with the sauce.
Serve the pasta in bowls, garnished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of fresh basil or parsley.
💡 Tips:
Slow-Cooking: The longer you let the Bolognese sauce simmer, the better the flavor. If you have time, you can let the sauce cook for 2-3 hours for even more depth of flavor.
Fresh Pasta: If you can, try to use fresh tagliatelle pasta for this dish—it will absorb the sauce better and add a tender texture.
Make-Ahead: The Bolognese sauce can be made a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator. It actually tastes even better after the flavors have had time to meld together.
Wine: The wine adds complexity to the sauce. If you prefer not to use wine, you can substitute it with a bit of beef broth or vegetable broth.
Tagliatelle Bolognese is an iconic Italian dish that embodies the essence of traditional Italian cooking with its rich flavors and comforting ingredients. Whether you're making it for a special occasion or a cozy dinner, it's sure to please everyone at the table! 🍝🍷