Bolognese Sauce

                                                                                                               

BOLOGNESE SAUCE

 

A Bolognese sauce is a lush way to top a pasta but is surprisingly easy to make.  It just asks for time, time in which to simmer quietly, to thicken and absorb the robust flavors of vegetables and protein. So promise it time.  Add some Italian sausage or ground pork if you like, it's bound to be good.

 

INGREDIENTS

3 Tbsp oil

2 strips of bacon or pancetta, chopped

2 oz anchovies  optional

1 small onion finely diced

1 celery stalk finely diced

1 small carrot finely diced

3 bay leaves

1/2 tsp freshly crushed peppercorns

a pinch of red pepper flakes

2 tsp garlic chopped 

1 Tbsp dried oregano 

pinch of anise and thyme

16 oz ground turkey

28 oz can of crushed tomatoes, preferably San Marzano

2 Tbsp tomato paste

1/2 tsp brown sugar  optional 

1 cup dry red wine  optional

 1/4 cup cream  

some fresh, chopped basil leaves 

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

In a goodly pot:

Heat the oil over a medium flame and fry the bacon or pancetta till barely crisp, about 3 minutes.

Stir in the onions, garlic, celery, carrots, bay leaves and peppercorns, red pepper flakes and anchovies and fry for about 7 minutes till the veggies are softened.

Add the ground turkey, and cook for another 5 minutes breaking up the ground fowl into a mealy mix, and the color is pink no longer.

Herbs get added now, oregano, anise and thyme.

Stir in the crushed tomatoes and tomato paste, wine and brown sugar.  

Bring the sauce to a boil and then reduce the heat to low, just enough to maintain a soft simmer. 

Cover the sauce and and let it cook for for at least an hour and a half, stirring frequently.

Add the cream for the last 15 minutes and low simmer the sauce.

Give it an occasional stir and check for salt.

The sauce will be thickened and luscious.

Garnish with basil leaves.

 It is done.

Serve the Bolognese sauce over a plate of pasta under a shower of Parmesan cheese. 

 :) Enjoy my darlings.