For those who do not know, I am part Italian from my mother’s side. My grandma and great grandparents are 100% Italian, and therefore great cooks. One of my favorite Italian recipes that has been passed down through multiple generations is this traditional Italian bolognese. My family has been making it for years and it is hands down the best bolognese I have ever had (and I usually hate bolognese), which is why I decided to finally record the exact ingredients and methods here!

It is thick, meaty, hearty, and full of flavor. All of the ingredients are simple and healthy and the method is super simple as well! Simmer this bolognese for a few hours and you will have the best sauce that everyone my family has made it for loves.

Ingredients:

  1. 1 onion small dice
  2. 2 carrots small dice
  3. 2 celery small dice
  4. 1 head of garlic minced
  5. 3 TB dried basil
  6. 1 lb ground pork
  7. 1 lb ground beef
  8. Two 1 lb cans of whole Italian tomatoes
  9. s/p to taste
  10. 1 cup of parley (KEEP WHOLE, with stems)

Instructions:

  1. Put a medium size pot over medium heat with olive oil. Saute your onion, carrots, and celery until translucent. Salt as you are cooking.
  2. Add your minced garlic and saute 2 minutes.
  3. Add your dried basil and saute another 2 minutes.
  4. In a separate saute pan saute your beef and pork until cooked through. Salt as you cook. Drain off the fat.
  5. Add your drained meat to your pot.
  6. Open your canned tomatoes and crush them into smaller pieces with your hands, add them and the liquid to the pot.
  7. Also add your whole cup of parsley, stems and all! This adds flavor, you will pull the parsley out at the end.
  8. Bring the mixture up to a simmer, add around 2 tsp of salt and mix. Once it is bubbling, let the bolognese simmer for 1 hour minimum! The longer it simmers the more flavor it develops!
  9. After an hour, taste and season if necessary, discard the parsley and enjoy!
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