Who doesn't like spaghetti and meat sauce? Raise your hands now. See! I don't see any hands in the air. The difference is, I like this beef ragu way better than the usual meat sauce people make at home because of its distinct taste that is developed when all ingredients are blended together.
Blame it on that good Merlot that I keep pouring when I make this meat sauce. That was not an accident by the way. That was intentional to bring out the complex flavor of this dish and not to get you drunk. So keep in mind to cook with the kind of wine that you drink.
Another secret is PATIENCE! Make some buttery and garlicky bread to enjoy your pasta dish with and just allow your ragu to simmer and simmer until the ground beef renders its own fat (which you can scoop out later) that it almost melts in the sauce. Just hang in there with your parmesan cheese because it will be worth the wait. You may not even buy those jarred sauces ever again and you'd have your family and friends asking you to make it again or even for the recipe alone.
Bon Appetit!
Ingredients
- 500 grams ground beef
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 medium onions, chopped finely
- 2 celery stalks, chopped finely
- 1 small carrot, peeled, chopped or grated
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 1/2 cup dry red wine
- 3 cups beef stock
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup whole milk
- 500 grams Pasta of your choice
- Salt & paper
- Finely grated parmesan
Directions
- 1In medium heat, fry bacon until brown then on same sauce pan, sauté garlic, onions, celery and carrots.
- 2Stir in tomato paste
- 3Season the ground beef with salt and pepper and cook until light brown.
- 4Deglaze the sauce pan with dry red wine. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the pan.
- 5Pour the beef stock and allow it to simmer on a low heat.
- 6Stir occasionally to prevent anything from sticking to the pan.
- 7In about half an hour, pour milk and allow it to simmer for another half an hour at least OR until the stock is reduced and the sauce had thickened on its own.
- 8Taste and season more if necessary. *sneak in a Tbsp of butter to finish it when nobody is looking! It'll taste even better! That is your secret! Serve it with your favorite pasta.
- 9TIP! Do not put OIL in your pasta water so your sauce will cling properly to your noodles!
