Ingredients: |
Ingredients: 1 large onion or 2 small, cut into 1-inch dice
2 large carrots, cut into 1/2-inch dice
3 ribs celery, cut into 1-inch dice
4 cloves garlic
Extra-virgin olive oil, for the pan
Kosher salt
3 pounds ground chuck, brisket or round or
combination
2 cups tomato paste
3 cups hearty red wine
Water
3 bay leaves
1 bunch thyme, tied in a bundle
1 pound spaghetti
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
High quality extra-virgin olive oil, for finishing
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Directions: |
Directions:In a food processor, puree onion, carrots, celery, and garlic into a coarse
paste.
In a large pan over medium heat, coat pan with oil. Add the pureed veggies
and season generously with salt. Bring the pan to a medium-high heat and cook until
all the water has evaporated and they become nice and brown, stirring frequently,
about 15 to 20 minutes.
Be patient, this is where the big flavors develop.
Add the ground beef and season again generously with salt. BROWN THE BEEF!
Brown food tastes good. Don't rush this step. Cook another 15 to 20 minutes.
Add the tomato paste and cook until brown about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the red
wine. Cook until the wine has reduced by half, another 4 to 5 minutes.
Add water to the pan until the water is about 1 inch above the meat.
Toss in the bay leaves and the bundle of thyme and stir to combine everything. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, stirring occasionally. As the water evaporates you will gradually need to add more, about 2 to 3 cups at a time. Don't be shy about adding water during the cooking process, you can always cook it out. This is a game of reduce and add more water. This is where big rich flavors develop. If you try to add all the water in the beginning you will have boiled meat sauce rather than a rich, thick meaty sauce. Stir and TASTE frequently. Season with salt, if needed (you probably will). Simmer for 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
During the last 30 minutes of cooking, bring a large pot of water to a boil over
high heat to cook the spaghetti. Pasta water should ALWAYS be well salted. Salty
as the ocean! TASTE IT! If your pasta water is under seasoned it doesn't matter how
good your sauce is, your complete dish will always taste under seasoned. When the
water is at a rolling boil add the spaghetti and cook for 1 minute less than it calls for
on the package. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water.
While the pasta is cooking remove 1/2 of the ragu from the pot and reserve.
Drain the pasta and add to the pot with the remaining ragu. Stir or toss the pasta
to coat with the sauce. Add some of the reserved sauce, if needed, to make it
about an even ratio between pasta and sauce. Add the reserved pasta cooking water and cook the pasta and sauce together over a medium heat until the water has
reduced. Turn off the heat and give a big sprinkle of Parmigiano and a generous
drizzle of the high quality finishing olive oil. Toss or stir vigorously. Divide the pasta
and sauce into serving bowls or 1 big pasta bowl. Top with remaining grated
Parmigiano. Serve immediately |
This recipe for Dad's Pasta Bolognese is from