How to Make Bolognese Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup finely diced onion
• 3/4 cup finely diced celery
• 3/4 cup finely diced carrot
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 1/2 cups 2% milk
• 2 cups white wine
• 1 (28 ounce) can whole Italian plum tomatoes (preferably San Marzano)
• 2 cups water, or as needed

Steps

1. Melt butter with olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, celery, carrot, and 1 pinch salt; cook and stir until onion turns translucent, about 5 minutes.
2. Stir ground beef into vegetables; cook and stir until meat is crumbly and no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, and black pepper.
3. Pour milk into ground beef mixture and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring frequently, until most of the milk has evaporated and the bottom of the pan is still slightly saucy, about 5 minutes.
4. Increase heat to medium-high and pour in white wine; cook and stir until wine has mostly evaporated, about 5 minutes.
5. Pour tomatoes with juice into a large mixing bowl; crush them with your hands until they resemble a chunky sauce. Pour tomato mixture into ground beef mixture; fill the tomato can with 2 cups water and stir into sauce. Bring to a boil.
6. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring often, until mixture cooks down into a thick sauce, at least 3 hours but preferably 4 to 6 hours. Skim fat from the top of sauce if desired. Add more water if sauce is too thick. Taste and adjust seasonings before serving.