
To make one thing clear, the Spaghetti Bolognese dish is not an Italian invention. Nevertheless, you can often find it on menus in many other countries prepared in different ways
The so called “Spaghetti Bolognese” is the most abused Italian recipe worldwide. In Germany there are countless variations of the popular pasta dish, also the ketchup bottle can slip into the sauce. Ketchup has no place in this dish made with cream in my opinion.
Someone should know that there is the “Ragù alla Bolognese” in Italy. This is one of the world’s most famous Italian sauces. This recipe was written about in the “Accademia Italiana della Cucina” October 17, 1982 at the Bologna Chamber of Commerce. The Ragù alla Bolognese is traditionally eaten in Bologna with fresh Tagliatelle noodle, or used to prepare Lasagne al Forno. But never with Spaghetti – as is usually served outside of Italy.
The name “Spaghetti Bolognese” is actually used when you mean the long pasta that is served with minced meat sauce. So whenever I am in the mood and tired of the common red Spaghetti sauce I make my Bolognese sauce
Of course, the original recipe is also interpreted in many ways in Italy with each Italian Nonna has her own recipe. If you ask Italians how to prepare the perfect Ragù, the answer is most likely always: “Come lo fa la mamma” (“How mum does it”).
Another important ingredient for the perfect Ragù is time, because only after simmering for several hours does the sauce develop all of its aromas and becomes tender and creamy and a real pleasure! If you don’t have the patience you can accelerate the cooking time in my Instant Pot recipe below.
Spaghetti Bolognese
Ingredients
- 2 lb minced beef
- Bacon (optional)
- 3 garlic gloves
- 3 carrots
- 3 celery stalks
- 2 onions
- I can or 400 g. tomatoes
- 1 lb Spaghetti
- 2 tbsp butter
- ½ liter milk
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Dash of Nutmeg
Instructions
- Chop carrots and celery in small pieces.
- Sliver or chop the garlic.
- Heat butter and olive oil in a deep pan and simmer celery and carrots on low for 30 minutes.
- Fry the hamburger meat and bacon in separate pan until no longer pink.
- Drain.
- Add to the meat mixture the white wine and ½ liter milk,.
- Add a can tomato puree (or fresh tomatoes).
- Combine the meat in the deep pan with the carrots, celery, minced onion and garlic.
- Stir and bring to boil, turn down to simmer.
- Simmer for about 5 hours (crockpot?), but at least 2 hours should do.
- Boil the Spaghetti
- Season the sauce with sea salt and pepper, nutmeg and additional wine
Notes
Place leftover in the refrigerator, it will even taste better the next day