Faulknerian Family Ragu Bolognese
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Author Notes: At a certain point, you have to give up on the idea of having a traditional family. And so it goes with the traditional holiday meals. This is what I make at Christmas, and it is everything I want to be as a cook: generous, comforting, rich and simple, loving and sublime. - ENunn
Serves 8-10
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 medium onions, finely chopped
- 1 large carrot, scraped and finely chopped
- 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground veal
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/4 pancetta, minced or ground
- 2 cups cream, half and half, or milk, or a combination
- 1 16 oz can whole peeled Italian tomatoes, preferably San Marzano, with their juice
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 2 cups chicken stock
- salt
- pepper
- In a very large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery and garlic; saute over medium until translucent.
- Raise heat to medium high; add veal, pork, beef and pancetta to the vegetables and brown for about 15 minutes, breaking up clumps of meat with the back of a spoon. You really want it to brown. Turn up the heat if you have to.
- Add half the cream and simmer over medium heat until almost dry, about 15 minutes. Add the tomatoes, breaking them apart with your hands, and their juice, and simmer over medium heatfor 20 minutes. Add the wine and broth and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 2 hours, uncovered.
- After two hours, add remaining cream. Simmer for another 1/2 hour, or longer, until the flavor has intensified and the sauce has become somewhat dry. This is not a saucy sauce; it's a meaty one. It's also rather pink.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve over pappardelle; pass freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano at the table.
- This recipe was entered in the contest for The Recipe You Want To Be Remembered For
Tags: freezes well, serves a crowd
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about 2 years ago Oui, Chef
Traditional families are boring, and boring is no fun. I'll take a crazy family with sublime food any day! - S
about 2 years ago ENunn
Me, too, Oui!
about 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
What a beautiful bolognese, my favorite pasta sauce. Sounds really lovely.
about 2 years ago ENunn
I hope you try it, and if you do I hope you love it.
about 2 years ago ENunn
Thanks, you guys. This sauce will never ever ever fail you.
about 2 years ago drbabs
Barbara is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Every Southern family is Faulknerian in its own way. Lovely recipe.
about 2 years ago Ilalia
Coming from a nontraditional blended family I am moved by your headnote and I plan to give your recipe a try for my family!,,,,not to mention it really looks good.
about 2 years ago Midge
What a great headnote. Love your recipe too.
about 2 years ago gingerroot
This sounds wonderful and I love your headnote.
about 2 years ago boulangere
Cynthia is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.
Love your title and head note!