Meat sauce for any side dish: how to cook

Meat sauce is a universal addition to any side dish: pasta, rice, potatoes, polenta or even buckwheat. One of the most delicious and popular options is bolognese sauce. It has a rich taste, thick consistency and is easy to prepare. We at joy-pup will tell you how to cook bolognese sauce step by step at home. Read also how to cook mushroom gravy.

Ingredients:

• Ground beef – 500 g
• Onions – 1 pc.
• Carrots – 1 pc.
• Celery (stalk) – 1 pc.
• Garlic – 2 cloves
• Tomatoes in their own juice – 400 g (or tomato puree)
• Tomato paste – 1 tbsp
• Dry red wine – 100 ml
• Milk – 100 ml
• Olive oil – 2 tbsp
• Salt, black pepper – to taste
• Italian herbs (oregano, basil, thyme) – optional
• Bay leaf – 1 pc.

Step-by-step preparation of Bolognese sauce

• Finely chop 1 onion, 1 carrot, 1 celery stalk and 2 cloves of garlic. The vegetables should be chopped as finely as possible so that they “dissolve” well in the sauce.
• Heat the olive oil in a deep frying pan or saucepan. First fry the onion, after 2 minutes add the carrots and celery. Fry over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook for another 1 minute.
• Add minced meat to vegetables. Break up lumps with a spoon, fry until fully cooked and a light crust forms. The meat should be crumbly and golden brown – this is the key to a delicious sauce.
• When the meat is golden brown, pour in the wine. Let it evaporate over medium heat – this will take 2-3 minutes. The alcohol will evaporate, leaving only a rich taste.
• Add chopped tomatoes in their own juice, bay leaf, salt and pepper, dried Italian herbs to the sauce. Stir and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 45-60 minutes. It is important that the sauce does not boil vigorously, but simmers slowly – this way it will become thick, aromatic and rich. Stir occasionally during stewing. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a little water or meat broth.
• At the very end, add milk. It will soften the taste of tomatoes, making the sauce more velvety and balanced. Cook for another 10-15 minutes without a lid.

To be continued…