Q1: What is the absolute, number one secret to a truly rich and flavorful Bolognese sauce?

The secret is a long, slow simmer . While you can make a quick meat sauce, the key to that deep, complex, and unbelievably rich flavor of a true Bolognese is to let it simmer, uncovered, for at least an hour. This allows the sauce to reduce, concentrating all the delicious flavors from the meat, the vegetables, and the tomatoes.

Q2: Why do you put milk in a Bolognese sauce?

This is a classic, authentic, and brilliant trick from traditional Italian cooking! The lactic acid in the milk works as a fantastic, natural tenderizer for the ground meat. It also adds a subtle, beautiful richness and a touch of sweetness that perfectly balances the acidity of the tomatoes, resulting in a wonderfully tender and velvety sauce.

Q3: Can I make this sauce ahead of time and freeze it?

Yes, this is a perfect freezer meal! The sauce freezes and reheats beautifully. It is a fantastic recipe to double so you can have a quick and delicious homemade sauce ready to go in your freezer at all times.

Q4: Can I make this recipe in a slow cooker or an Instant Pot?

Yes! To make it in a slow cooker , simply complete all the initial steps of sautéing your vegetables and browning your meat on the stovetop. Then, transfer this mixture and all the other sauce ingredients to your slow cooker and cook on Low for 6-8 hours or on High for 3-4 hours . For the Instant Pot , use the "Sauté" function to cook your vegetables and meat. Then, add all the other sauce ingredients, secure the lid, and pressure cook on High for 20 minutes .

Q5: What is the best pasta to serve with a hearty meat sauce like this one?

You want to use a sturdy pasta shape that has plenty of nooks and crannies to catch and hold onto the thick, chunky sauce. A large, hollow, and ridged pasta like rigatoni is a perfect choice. Other great options include penne, ziti, or a wide, flat noodle like pappardelle .

Rigatoni Bolognese (Easy Meat Sauce Recipe!)

A hearty and flavorful recipe for Rigatoni with a rich, slow-simmered meat sauce, similar to a Bolognese. The sauce features a base of lean ground beef and finely chopped vegetables like carrots, onion, celery, and zucchini. The entire mixture is slow-simmered for an hour with tomatoes, broth, and herbs to develop a deep, complex flavor. A splash of milk is added for a touch of creaminess. The finished sauce is tossed with cooked whole wheat rigatoni pasta and a bit of reserved pasta water until the noodles are perfectly coated.

Author: Evelyn

Ingredients

16 ounces whole wheat rigatoni pasta
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 medium carrot, finely chopped
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
1 medium celery stalk, finely chopped
1 medium zucchini, diced small
4 teaspoons minced garlic
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
2 Tablespoons tomato paste
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
2 cups vegetable broth
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried basil
1 Tablespoon honey or agave
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 cup whole milk or soy milk
2 Tablespoons freshly chopped parsley
Grated parmesan cheese, for garnish

Instructions

In a large Dutch oven or skillet with high sides, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, and celery. Cook for 7-9 minutes, until the onions begin to soften.
Stir in the zucchini and garlic and cook for another 5 minutes.
Add the ground beef to the pot, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook for 7-8 minutes over medium-high heat until partially cooked through.
Stir in the tomato paste, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth, oregano, basil, honey, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and milk.
Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer over medium-low. Cook, uncovered, for 1 hour, stirring every 10-15 minutes.
While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rigatoni until al dente, about 9-10 minutes. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water.
Add the cooked rigatoni and the reserved cup of pasta water to the meat sauce.
Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 3-5 minutes, mixing often, until the sauce has thickened and clings to the pasta.
Stir in the fresh parsley.
Serve in bowls, garnished with more fresh parsley and grated parmesan cheese.

Notes

This sauce gets its rich, deep flavor from being slow-simmered for a full hour, which allows the flavors to meld and the sauce to reduce.
The sauce is packed with a variety of finely chopped ‘hidden’ vegetables, adding nutrients and flavor.
Reserving the starchy pasta water and adding it at the end is a key technique that helps the sauce thicken and adhere perfectly to the pasta.

Find it online: https://cookupjoy.com/rigatoni-bolognese/