Penne with Bolognese Sauce (Printable Version)
Rich, hearty meat sauce clings to perfectly cooked penne in this Italian comfort classic that's ready in under an hour.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Bolognese Sauce
01 -
2 tbsp olive oil
02 -
1 small onion, finely chopped
03 -
2 garlic cloves, minced
04 -
1 carrot, finely diced
05 -
1 celery stalk, finely diced
06 -
400g ground beef (or half beef/half pork)
07 -
2 tbsp tomato paste
08 -
400g canned crushed tomatoes
09 -
1/2 cup milk or cream (optional)
10 -
Salt and pepper to taste
11 -
1/2 tsp dried oregano or thyme
12 -
Pinch of nutmeg (optional)
→ For the Pasta
13 -
350g penne pasta
14 -
Salted water for boiling
15 -
Freshly grated Parmesan, for serving
16 -
Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish (optional)
# Steps To Follow:
01 -
Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, carrot, and celery, sautéing until softened, about 5-6 minutes.
02 -
Add ground meat to the vegetable mixture. Brown thoroughly, breaking apart with a wooden spoon until no pink remains.
03 -
Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to caramelize. Add crushed tomatoes, herbs, seasonings, and milk if using. Reduce heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
04 -
While sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving about 60ml of pasta water.
05 -
Toss the cooked penne with Bolognese sauce, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to achieve desired consistency. Serve topped with freshly grated Parmesan and herbs if desired.
# Notes and Tips:
01 -
For authentic flavor, allow the sauce to simmer longer if time permits. The flavor deepens significantly after 45 minutes to an hour.