Description
A classic and comforting Italian dish, Simple Bolognese features a rich, slow-simmered tomato and ground beef sauce served over tender pasta. This recipe combines sautéed aromatic vegetables with ground beef and crushed cherry tomatoes, simmered to perfection with fresh herbs, making it a perfect family meal that’s both flavorful and satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
- 1 celery stalk, coarsely chopped
- 1 carrot, coarsely chopped
- 1 pound ground chuck beef
- 2 cans (14 ounces each) crushed cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf Italian parsley
- 8 fresh basil leaves, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Pasta
- 1 pound pasta (such as mezzi rigatoni or pappardelle)
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic and sauté until they become soft and translucent, approximately 8 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Cook Vegetables: Add the coarsely chopped celery and carrot to the skillet and continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes until they begin to soften, which will build the flavor base for your sauce.
- Brown the Beef: Increase the heat to high, add the ground chuck beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until the beef is fully browned and no longer pink, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently to ensure even cooking.
- Simmer the Sauce: Stir in the crushed cherry tomatoes, chopped parsley, and basil leaves. Reduce heat to medium-low and let the sauce simmer gently until it thickens and flavors meld, roughly 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook the Pasta: While the sauce simmers, cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain well.
- Combine and Serve: Toss the drained pasta with the Bolognese sauce to coat evenly. Serve hot, optionally garnished with extra basil or Parmesan cheese for added flavor.
Notes
- Use ground chuck beef for a richer flavor and better fat content that enhances the sauce.
- Adjust seasoning at the end of the cooking process to taste; fresh herbs add brightness to the sauce.
- For thicker sauce, simmer longer or slightly reduce the liquid before adding pasta.
- Reserve a bit of pasta water to loosen sauce if needed when mixing with pasta.
- Pairs well with a simple green salad and crusty bread for a complete meal.
