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Bolognese Meat Sauce

A rich, savory Bolognese Meat Sauce made with ground beef and aromatic vegetables, perfect for pasta or as a hearty topping for baked dishes.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main ingredients
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium carrot, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Olive oil For sautéing
  • Fresh basil, for garnish

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Start by chopping the onion, dicing the carrot, and celery, and mincing the garlic.
Cooking
  1. In a large pot or dutch oven, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat.
  2. Add the chopped onion, carrot, and celery. Cook until the vegetables are soft, about 5-7 minutes.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic and let it cook for about a minute before adding the ground beef.
  4. Break up the beef with a spatula and cook until browned, about 8-10 minutes.
  5. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and add the tomato paste, stirring well to combine.
  6. Add salt and pepper to taste and let the sauce simmer on low heat for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Serving
  1. Once your sauce has thickened and the flavors melded beautifully, garnish with fresh basil and serve.

Notes

For a lighter sauce, consider using ground turkey or chicken. The longer you let the sauce simmer, the better the flavor. To avoid a watery sauce, cook uncovered for part of the time. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in a saucepan over low heat.