In honor of our special Family issue, Food Network Magazine asked the kids of some Food Network stars to act as guest editors and share their favorite family dinners. Here’s what Geoffrey Zakarian’s daughter, Madeline, had to say about this bolognese dish: “”My dad makes the sauce fresh. It takes awhile, so we don’t have it very often. But it’s so good when we do!”
| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 2 hr |
| Active: | 30 min |
| Yield: | 4 to 6 (plus extra sauce) |
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
- 1 1/2 pounds ground veal
- 1/2 pound ground mild Italian sausage
- 2 white onions, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1/2 cup tomato paste
- 1 small bunch thyme
- 1 sprig rosemary
- 1 cup dry red wine (or use beef stock)
- 2 cups beef stock
- 2 28-ounce cans whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes, crushed by hand
- 1 3-inch piece pecorino romano cheese rind, plus shaved cheese for topping
- 1 pound spaghetti
Instructions
- Heat a large Dutch oven over high heat. Add the olive oil, then the beef, veal and sausage; cook, breaking up the meat, until very well browned, 8 minutes. Remove the meat to a plate, leaving the fat in the pan.
- Pulse the onions, carrots and garlic in a food processor until the size of small pebbles. Add to the fat in the Dutch oven and cook, stirring, until soft, 6 to 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Return the meat and any juices to the Dutch oven. Stir in the tomato paste and cook, stirring, until brick red, about 10 minutes.
- Tie the thyme and rosemary together with kitchen twine. Add the wine to the Dutch oven and cook until reduced by half, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the stock, tomatoes, herb bundle and cheese rind. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat until thickened, about 1 1/2 hours. Season with salt and pepper.
- About 20 minutes before serving, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook as the label directs. Drain and toss with some of the sauce. Top with shaved cheese. Refrigerate the leftover sauce for up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 6 servings |
| Calories | 1029 |
| Total Fat | 45 g |
| Saturated Fat | 15 g |
| Carbohydrates | 82 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 9 g |
| Sugar | 15 g |
| Protein | 68 g |
| Cholesterol | 160 mg |
| Sodium | 1930 mg |
Reviews
OMG, just the best bolognese sauce! It takes a while but is so delicious, I make a vat load at a time and freeze portions so I always have some ready.
Not only the best bolognese sauce on the planet but this could be the best thing I’ve ever made. See the chef’s daughter’s cookbook for an extra tip that send this over the top.
I made this for a birthday celebration for 8 people- and everyone loved it. They all asked if they could take some home. This takes about 3 to 4 hours to make, and I had it simmering for the last 2 hours. It is worth the effort for special occasions and will definitely do again.
Well worth the time and effort! The flavors were amazing and it’s a great dish on a cold night.
Takes time, but so worth it!!