The Best Slow-Cooked Bolognese Sauce Recipe
The oven technique for this ragù Bolognese recipe develops rich flavors and a tender, silky texture. This is the Bolognese that will leave you and your loved ones weak in the knees.
Ingredients
Preparation
- 1
Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat oven to 300°F (150°C).
- 2
Place stock in a medium bowl or 1-quart liquid measure and sprinkle with gelatin. Set aside.
- 3
Purée tomatoes in the can using an immersion blender or transfer to the bowl of a countertop blender and purée until smooth.
- 4
Transfer chicken livers to a cup that just fits head of immersion blender and purée until smooth.
Browning Meats
- 5
Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat until shimmering.
- 6
Add ground beef, pork, and lamb, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring and breaking up with a wooden spoon or potato masher until no longer pink, about .
- 7
Remove from heat and stir in puréed chicken livers.
Sautéing Vegetables
- 8
Meanwhile, heat butter and pancetta in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook, stirring frequently, until fat has mostly rendered but butter and pancetta have not yet started to brown, about .
- 9
Add onion, carrots, celery, garlic, sage, and half of parsley and cook, stirring and tossing, until vegetables are completely softened but not browned, about .
- 10
Add cooked vegetables to meat mixture.
Reducing Liquid
- 11
Return Dutch oven to high heat and cook, stirring, until most of the liquid has evaporated from the pan, about longer.
Building Sauce Base
- 12
Add wine and cook, stirring, until mostly evaporated.
- 13
Add reserved stock, tomatoes, milk, and bay leaves.
- 14
Season gently with salt and pepper.
Oven Cooking
- 15
Bring sauce to a simmer, then transfer to oven, uncovered.
- 16
Cook, stirring and scraping down sides of pot occasionally, until liquid has almost completely reduced and sauce is rich and thick underneath a heavy layer of fat, .
- 17
If sauce still looks liquid or fat has not separated and formed a thick layer after 4 hours, transfer to stovetop and finish cooking at a brisk simmer, stirring frequently.
Finishing Sauce
- 18
Carefully skim off most of the fat, leaving behind about 1 cup total. (For more precise measurement, skim completely, then add back 1 cup of fat.)
- 19
Stir in heavy cream, parmesan, fish sauce, and remaining parsley.
- 20
Bring to a boil on stovetop, stirring constantly to emulsify.
- 21
Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Serving
- 22
Heat sauce in a large pot until just simmering. Set aside.
- 23
Cook pasta in a large pot of well-salted water until just barely al dente.
- 24
Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid.
- 25
Return pasta to pot and add just enough sauce to coat, along with some of the cooking liquid.
- 26
Cook over high heat, tossing and stirring gently, until sauce is thick and pasta is coated, about .
- 27
Transfer to a serving bowl and serve immediately, passing parmesan at the table.