Authentic Bolognese Sauce

Ingredients

Olive oil

2 tablespoons

Onion

1, finely chopped

Carrot

1, finely chopped

Celery stalk

2, finely chopped

Garlic cloves

3, minced

Ground beef

1 pound

Tomato paste

2 tablespoons

Canned crushed tomatoes

1 (28-ounce) can

Red wine

1 cup

Dried oregano

1 teaspoon

Dried basil

1 teaspoon

Bay leaf

1

Salt and pepper

to taste

Pasta

1 pound, cooked according to package instructions

Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup, grated

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
2. Add the chopped onion, carrot, celery, and minced garlic to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened. This should take about 5 minutes.
3. Add the ground beef to the pot, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until the beef is browned and no longer pink.
4. Stir in the tomato paste, letting it cook for about 2 minutes to deepen the flavor.
5. Add the crushed tomatoes, red wine, oregano, basil, and bay leaf to the pot. Season with salt and pepper, then bring the mixture to a simmer.
6. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer uncovered for about 2 hours. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
7. After 2 hours, remove the bay leaf and taste the sauce. Adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
8. Serve the Bolognese sauce hot over cooked pasta and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!