Italian Penne Bolognese Recipes

SIMPLE BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• In a large skillet heat the olive oil. When almost smoking, add the onion and garlic and saute over medium heat until the onions become very soft, about 8 minutes. Add the celery and carrot and saute for 5 minutes. Raise heat to high and add the ground beef. Saute, stirring frequently and breaking up any large lumps and cook until meat is no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes, parsley and basil and cook over medium low heat until the sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper. This will take approximately 1/2 hour. Finish bolognese with Pecorino Romano.

CLASSIC BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Heat a large, heavy pot over medium heat. Add EVOO, 2 turns of the pan. Add the butter to the oil in small pieces and when the butter foams, add the onions, carrots, celery, garlic and bay and stir, about 5 minutes. Add pancetta and stir 8 to 10 more minutes to render and crisp. Add about a third of the beef and crumble it with a wooden paddle or spoon, let all of the liquid absorb and let the meat begin to lightly caramelize before adding the next third; repeat. Season the meat with salt, pepper, white pepper and nutmeg. Add white wine, about a quarter to a third of a bottle, then stir and let it absorb into the meat. Scrape up all of the fond or the drippings from the meats and vegetables, being careful not to burn the meat. Add milk, tomatoes and about 1 cup stock, a piece of cheese rind from Parmigiano-Reggiano if you have one, then lower heat to simmer, partially cover and cook the sauce 2 1/2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally and thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Add up to 1 extra cup of stock if needed if sauce gets too thick. The perfect traditional Bolognese should be buttery, uniform and emulsified, the consistency of rich, tender, pourable oatmeal. Remove bay leaf and the rind, if using, from the sauce. Sauce may be made a few days ahead as the longer it sets, the better it gets.
• To serve, cook pasta in salted water 1 minute less than package directions for al dente. Reserve 1 full cup of starchy cooking water, then drain pasta and place back in hot pot.
• Combine pasta with about two-thirds of the sauce, the cooking water and a couple of handfuls of grated cheese, tossing with tongs to combine.
• Serve pasta in shallow bowls with a little torn basil.

ITALIAN PENNE BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Sauté bacon until fat is rendered; drain fat.
• Add ground chicken, beef, and sausage; brown and drain fat.
• Add onion, celery, carrot, zucchini, and garlic; sauté until onion is clear.
• Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, red wine, rosemary, and nutmeg; Simmer 45 minutes.
• Add Sauterne or Marsala; simmer 10 minutes.
• Add evaporated milk to smooth out sauce.
• Serve over hot cooked penne pasta.

PENNE BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• In a large non-stick skillet, heat the oil until hot but not smoking over medium heat.
• Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the carrots,celery, and 1/3 cup of water and cook until the vegetables are tender and the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes longer.
• Stir in the beef and cook until no longer pink, about 4 minutes.
• Add the wine and cook until the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the tomato paste, 2/3 cup of the milk, the salt, pepper, and oregano, reduce to a simmer, and cook,stirring frequently until the milk has been absorbed.
• Continue to cook until the sauce is thick and creamy, gradually adding the remaining 1 cup milk until all has been absorbed, about 20 minutes longer.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water until just tender.Drain well.
• Transfer the sauce to a large bowl, add the pasta, the parsley, if desired, and the Parmesan and toss to combine all.
• Spoon the Penne Bolognese into 4 bowls and serve with additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.