Bolognese Sauce

Yields: 4 servings

Time: 20 minutes prep, 2 hours cooking, 2hr 20 minutes total

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 pound ground beef chuck
• kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 3 ounces bacon or pancetta, finely chopped
• 1 yellow onion, shredded on large side of box grater
• 1 celery stalk, shredded on large side of box grater
• 1 carrot, peeled, shredded on large side of box grater
• 1/3 cup tomato paste
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken stock
• 1 cup whole milk

PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Select the Sear/Sauté mode on the Essential Smart Skillet, set the temperature to 400°F and the timer for 15 minutes.
   
   
2. Pour the olive oil into the Essential Smart Skillet and allow it to come to temperature. Once the oil is shimmering, add the beef to the pan and break up into larger chunks (about the size of a quarter) with a wooden spoon. Season the beef generously with salt and pepper and allow it to sear, without stirring, for about 3 minutes or until deeply golden brown and a crust has formed. Lightly stir the beef, trying to flip the pieces over, and allow it to again sear undisturbed for about 3 minutes, until browned on the second side. It’s ok if the beef isn’t fully cooked, the goal here is to get a really great sear on as much of it as possible. Remove the beef from the Essential Smart Skillet and transfer it to a large bowl, leaving as much oil and fat behind as possible.
   
   
3. Add the bacon or pancetta to the pan and cook 5 to 6 minutes, stirring regularly, or until crispy and well browned. Keep an eye on the bottom of the pan, ensuring that the browned bits from searing the beef aren’t burning, adjusting the heat down as needed.
   
   
4. Once the bacon or pancetta are browned, add the shredded vegetables and tomato paste to the Essential Smart Skillet and cook, still stirring regularly, for another 6 to 8 minutes or until the vegetables have softened a lot and the tomato paste has started taking on a much darker red color. As long as things aren’t burning on the bottom of the pan, don’t rush this step, it’s where a lot of the flavor of the sauce is being built.
   
   
5. Add the seared beef back to the Essential Smart Skillet along with any liquid accumulated in the bottom of the bowl. Pour in the white wine and stir everything to equally combine. Select the Simmer mode on the Essential Smart Skillet, set the temperature to 180°F and the timer for 1 hour 30 minutes. Using the wooden spoon, begin smashing and breaking up the beef until it is as finely textured and separated as possible. Cook, uncovered, about 10 minutes or until the wine has mostly evaporated.
   
   
6. Once the beef is broken into very small pieces, add in the red wine vinegar, bay leaf, stock and milk, stirring until equally combined. Taste, and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as necessary. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, 1 hour or until the beef is very tender and the sauce has thickened considerably. If needed to reduce the sauce, uncover and cook for an additional 30 minutes.
   
   
7. Discard the bay leaf. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning one final time with salt, pepper and red wine vinegar. Serve the sauce over your favorite pasta, or cool and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

TIPS:

Patience Pays Off – Browning beef, crisping bacon, and sautéing veggies takes a little extra prep time, but one bite and you’ll know it’s worth every minute.

Wine Selection – Sauvignon Blanc to Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay to Marsala, you can’t go wrong by cooking with a dry white wine you’d enjoy drinking.