Spaghetti Bolognese

This was actually the first time that I've ever had bolognese. Needless to say, it was the first time that I have ever made it... absolutely will not be the last either! Jeez, I've really been missing out. I usually just eat spaghetti with a basic meat sauce, sometime meatballs. This, this is spectacular.

For those of you that are unfamiliar with what bolognese is, it is usually a meat sauce made from a mixture of meats (veal, pork, beef) depending on the recipe of course. It's not just the meats though... the whole sauce is different then the standard. It uses an array of vegetables to boost flavor, usually carrot, celery and onion- a general mire poix. Milk is simmered with the tomatoes to make a creamier sauce, although I would never call it a cream sauce. You would never know that there was milk in it.

I think of bolognese as a much more intricate Italian meat sauce. SO worth the extra effort.

This recipe actually uses carrot, onion and mushrooms, which I find to be a smart substitute. Mushrooms have a much stronger flavor than celery. They are also found to be have strong umami (savory) flavor and distinct meatiness. The exact mushrooms used are dried porcini's reconstituted. The reconstituted water is even added back into the sauce, boosting the flavor even more, if possible.

The vegetables are chopped and then pureed in the food processor to make the sauce nice and fine. LOVE it.

Did I mention that there is pancetta? Mmmmm, pancetta. The Italian bacon.

This is a great recipe. Please try it.


Weeknight Bolognese 
Adapted from Cooks Illustrated
Print Recipe

½ ounce dried porcini mushrooms
1¼ cup white wine (Riesling, gewürztraminer, white zinfandel, xx)
½ small carrot, peeled and chopped into rough 1/2-inch pieces
½ small onion, chopped into rough 1/2-inch pieces
3 ounces pancetta, cut into 1-inch pieces
28 ounces whole tomatoes with juice
1½ tablespoon unsalted butter
1 small garlic clove, pressed through garlic press or minced
1 teaspoon sugar
1¼ pound meatloaf mix or equal amounts 80 percent lean ground beef, ground veal, and ground pork
1½ cup whole milk
2 tablespoons tomato paste
Salt
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper

Cover porcini mushrooms with ½ cup water in small microwave-safe bowl; cover bowl with plastic wrap, cut a few steam vents with paring knife, and microwave on high power for 30 seconds. Let stand until mushrooms have softened, about 5 minutes. Using fork, lift porcini from liquid and transfer to second small bowl; pour soaking liquid through mesh strainer lined with paper towel. Set porcini and strained liquid aside.

Bring wine to simmer in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat; reduce heat to low and simmer until wine is reduced to 2 tablespoons, about 20 minutes. Set reduced wine aside.

Meanwhile, pulse carrot in food processor until broken down into rough ¼-inch pieces, about ten 1-second pulses. Add onion; pulse until vegetables are broken down to ⅛-inch pieces, about ten 1-second pulses. Transfer vegetables to small bowl. Process softened porcini until well ground, about 15 seconds, scraping down bowl if necessary. Transfer porcini to bowl with onions and carrots. Process pancetta until pieces are no larger than ¼ inch, 30 to 35 seconds, scraping down bowl if necessary; transfer to small bowl. Pulse tomatoes with juice until chopped fine, 6 to 8 one-second pulses.

Heat butter in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat; when foaming subsides, add pancetta and cook, stirring frequently, until well browned, about 2 minutes. Add carrot, onion, and porcini; cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are softened but not browned, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and sugar; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add ground meats, breaking meat into 1- inch pieces with wooden spoon, about 1 minute. Add milk and stir to break meat into ½-inch bits; bring to simmer, reduce heat to medium, and continue to simmer, stirring to break up meat into small pieces, until most liquid has evaporated and meat begins to sizzle, 18 to 20 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook until combined, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes, reserved porcini soaking liquid, ¼ teaspoon salt, and pepper; bring to simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium and simmer until liquid is reduced and sauce is thickened but still moist, 12 to 15 minutes. Stir in reduced wine and simmer to blend flavors, about 5 minutes.