This very traditional Italian dish will become a wonderful, easy and fulfilling weeknight family dinner.
Pasta Bolognese
Ingredients:
- extra virgin olive oil - 1/4 cup
- medium yellow onion - 1, finely diced
- medium bell pepper - 1, finely diced
- celery stalks - 3-4, finely diced
- thickly sliced pancetta - 2 slices, finely diced
- ground beef - 1 lb.
- ground pork - 1/4 lb.
- garlic - 2 cloves, minced
- dry red wine - 1 cup
- diced tomatoes - 14 oz. can,
- tomato paste - 2 tablespoons
- chicken stock - 3/4 cup
- fresh thyme lives - 1/2 teaspoon
- crushed red pepper - 1/2 teaspoon or to taste
- freshly ground black pepper - to taste
- salt - to taste
- fresh basil leaves - 1/2 cup, chopped
- fettuccine or other pasta - 2 lb, fresh or dried
- freshly grated Parmesan - to taste
Instructions:
Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large, heavy saucepan. Add the onion, celery, bell pepper and pancetta and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened but not browned, about 7- 8 minutes. Transfer the vegetable mixture into a large bowl. Heat the remaining olive oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground meat 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, thyme, and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 more minute. Pour 1 cup of the wine and 3/4 cup of the stock into the skillet and stir to scrape up any browned bits. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste and vegetable mixture, stirring until combined. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and cook for 40 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook for another 10 minutes. Add chopped basil leaves and remove from the heat. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until al dente. Drain well, return to the pot and toss with the sauce. Serve the pasta in deep bowls and pass the Parmesan at the table.
What happens to the onion, celery, bell pepper & pancetta . . .?
I apologize, that is my mistake. They need to be added along with the tomatoes and tomato paste. Thanks for telling me about that =)