Homemade Bolognese Sauce (217)

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 yellow onion (finely diced)
• 4 cloves garlic (crushed)
• 1 carrot (finely diced)
• 1 rib celery (finely diced)
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• ½ pound lean ground pork
• 1 ¼ cups red wine (or beef broth)
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 can whole tomatoes (with juices, 28 ounces each)
• 4 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 bay leaf
• ½ teaspoon salt (more to taste)
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• pappardelle (or long pasta, for serving)

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, cook onion in oil over medium heat until softened, about 3 to 4 minutes.
2. Add garlic, carrot, and celery, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
3. Add beef and pork. Break it up with a wooden spoon, until no pink remains. Drain fat.
4. Add the wine and simmer uncovered until evaporated, about 10 minutes. Add milk and simmer uncovered until evaporated, about 8 minutes.
5. Stir in tomatoes with juice, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, and bay leaf. Break tomatoes up with a spoon. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until thickened. Season with salt & pepper to taste.
6. Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1 ½ cups of pasta water and drain the pasta well.
7. Toss pasta with sauce, adding pasta water to thin it out if needed.
8. Serve hot with parmesan cheese.