Pappardelle with Bolognese Sauce
Pappardelle bolognese is a hearty pasta dish that combines ground pork, ground beef and pancetta to add great flavor to this classic Italian sauce, which is tossed with wide pasta noodles known as pappardelle. This pappardelle bolognese recipe can also be made with ricotta for anyone who loves cheese. Be sure to cook the pasta until it’s just al dente—tender but still a bit chewy. You won’t need all of the sauce for this dish; you can store leftover bolognese sauce by freezing the rest to serve again with pasta or to use in lasagna.
Ingredients
- 2 Tbs. olive oil
- 1 1/4 lb. (625 g) ground beef
- 1 1/4 lb. (625 g) ground pork
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 4 oz. (125 g) pancetta, cut into 1/2-inch (12-mm) dice
- 1 yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and finely diced
- 1 celery stalk, finely diced
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/3 cup (3 oz./90 g) tomato paste
- 1 cup (8 fl. oz./250 ml) dry red wine
- 1 cup (8 fl. oz./250 ml) milk
- 2 cans (each 28 oz./875 g) whole tomatoes, passed through a
food mill - 2 bay leaves
- 1 Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese rind
- 1 lb. (500 g) pappardelle, cooked until al dente and drained
- Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese for serving
Directions
Step 1. Cook the Ground Beef and Pork
In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, warm 1 Tbs. of the olive oil. Add the ground beef and pork, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 12 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Add the pancetta to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 7 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
Step 2. Add the Onions, Carrots and Celery and Cook
Reduce the heat to medium and warm the remaining 1 Tbs. olive oil. Add the onion, carrots and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add the wine and simmer until almost evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add the ground meats, pancetta, milk, tomatoes, bay leaves and cheese rind. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer.
Step 3. Cook Until Sauce Thickens
Cover partially, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Remove and discard the bay leaves and cheese rind.
Step 4. Toss the Pasta and Serve
Toss the pasta with about 3 cups (24 fl. oz./750 ml) of the sauce (reserve the remaining sauce for another use). Sprinkle cheese on top. Serve immediately and pass additional cheese alongside. Serves 4 to 6.
Williams Sonoma Test Kitchen