Bolognese Sauce with Steak and Shrimp Stir Fry Twist for a Hearty Dinner

Why You’ll Love This bolognese sauce

• Ease of preparation: This bolognese sauce recipe is straightforward and efficient, perfect for busy weeknights or weekend dinners. With simple steps and minimal prep, it lets you create a deeply flavorful sauce in under two hours, making it accessible for both new and seasoned home cooks.
• Health benefits: Combining lean ground beef and pork with fresh vegetables, this bolognese sauce provides a great source of protein, vitamins, and minerals while keeping saturated fat in check. The choice of whole milk adds richness without excess fat, supporting a balanced and nutritious meal.
• Versatility: Easily adaptable, this bolognese sauce caters to various dietary preferences. You can substitute ground meats with plant-based options for a vegan twist, switch tomatoes or broth types, and serve over gluten-free pasta or vegetable noodles to suit gluten-free diets or low-carb lifestyles.
• Distinctive flavor: The slow simmering of red wine, milk, and mellow vegetables with ground meats creates a rich, complex sauce that is robust yet balanced. The inclusion of Italian seasoning and bay leaf introduces aromatic layers, making this bolognese a delicious, hearty classic that complements pasta or other dishes superbly.

Essential Ingredients for bolognese sauce

Main Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil (or any cooking oil) – for sautéing and flavor base
• 1 yellow onion, finely diced (about 1 cup) – adds sweetness and depth
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed or minced – enhances aroma and savory notes
• 1 carrot, finely diced (about 1/3 cup) – contributes subtle sweetness and texture
• 1 rib celery, finely diced (about 1/4 cup) – adds aromatic undertones
• 1 pound (450g) lean ground beef (around 85% lean) – primary protein and rich flavor
• ½ pound (225g) lean ground pork – complements beef with fat and tenderness
• 1¼ cups (300 ml) dry red wine or beef broth – adds complexity and tenderizes meat
• 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk – balances acidity and enriches sauce
• 1 (28-ounce/800g) can whole peeled tomatoes with juices – forms rich tomato base
• 4 tablespoons (about 65g) tomato paste – deepens tomato flavor and thickens sauce
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning or 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg – herbs and spice blend for aroma
• 1 bay leaf – infuses subtle herbal notes
• ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste – essential seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper – adds mild heat and flavor balance

Special Dietary Options:

• Vegan: Substitute ground beef and pork with textured vegetable protein, lentils, or plant-based crumbles.
• Gluten-free: Use gluten-free pasta or ladder vegetable noodles and confirm all canned goods and seasonings are gluten-free.
• Low-calorie: Choose leaner meats like extra-lean ground beef or turkey, reduce added oils, and increase vegetable content to lower calorie density.

How to Prepare the Perfect bolognese sauce: Step-by-Step Guide

First Step: Prepare the ingredients

Finely chop the yellow onion, crush or mince the garlic, and dice the carrot and celery to ensure uniform cooking and a smooth sauce texture.

Second Step: Sauté the vegetables

Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook the onion until soft, about 3 to 4 minutes, then add garlic, carrot, and celery. Sauté until the vegetables have softened, approximately 5 to 10 minutes, developing the base flavor.

Third Step: Brown the meats

Add the lean ground beef and ground pork to the pan. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat and cook until no pink remains, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary to keep sauce light and healthy.

Fourth Step: Deglaze with wine or broth

Pour in the dry red wine or beef broth, simmering uncovered to allow most liquid to evaporate, roughly 10 minutes. This step intensifies the sauce’s flavor and tenderizes the meat.

Fifth Step: Add milk and simmer

Stir in the whole milk and continue simmering uncovered until it almost evaporates, approximately 8 to 12 minutes. Milk adds creaminess and balances tomato acidity for smoothness.

Sixth Step: Incorporate tomatoes and seasonings

Add the whole peeled tomatoes with juice, crushing them gently by hand or with a spoon. Stir in tomato paste, Italian seasoning or grated nutmeg, and bay leaf. Bring to a gentle simmer.

Seventh Step: Simmer slowly

Reduce heat to low and cook the sauce at a very gentle simmer, partially covered, for at least 1 to 1½ hours. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and allow flavors to meld and thicken the sauce deeply.

Final Step: Season and serve

Remove the bay leaf and taste the sauce, adding salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed. Serve the bolognese sauce hot over your favorite pasta, such as pappardelle, or vegetable-based noodles. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese or herbs if desired.

Tip: Save some pasta cooking water to mix into the sauce before serving for perfect consistency and adherence to noodles.

this …

Dietary Substitutions to Customize Your bolognese sauce

Protein and Main Component Alternatives

• Use cooked lentils, mushrooms, or textured vegetable protein instead of traditional ground beef and pork for a plant-based bolognese.
• Swap beef for lean turkey or chicken mince to reduce fat while maintaining protein content.

Vegetable, Sauce, and Seasoning Modifications

• Try fire-roasted or sun-dried tomatoes instead of canned whole tomatoes for a smoky, intense flavor.
• Add fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme, or oregano to adjust the aromatic profile.
• Boost spice with extra garlic or a touch of chili flakes to personalize the heat level.

Mastering bolognese sauce: Advanced Tips and Variations

• Pro cooking techniques: Use a heavy-bottomed pan to ensure even heat and prevent burning. Simmer the sauce low and slow for the richest flavor and perfect texture.
• Flavor variations: Introduce a splash of cream or sprinkle fresh nutmeg for creaminess. For a smoky touch, try smoked paprika.
• Presentation tips: Serve with freshly grated Parmesan or garnish with chopped basil or parsley for a vibrant, appealing dish.
• Make-ahead options: Prepare large batches and freeze in portions for convenient meals later. Thaw and reheat slowly to preserve all the flavors.

How to Store bolognese sauce: Best Practices

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions About bolognese sauce

bolognese sauce

---

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

• Author: Isabella Hayes
• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings
• Diet: Gluten-Free

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

🍝 Savor a rich, meaty Bolognese sauce that combines ground beef and pork for deep, layered flavors.
🍲 Slow simmering and simple ingredients make this sauce a hearty and satisfying choice for any pasta dish.

---

Ingredients

– 2 tablespoons olive oil for sautéing and flavor base

– 1 yellow onion

– 4 cloves garlic

– 1 carrot

– 1 rib celery

– 1 pound (450g) lean ground beef for primary protein and rich flavor

– ½ pound (225g) lean ground pork

– 1¼ cups (300 ml) dry red wine or beef broth

– 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk

– 1 (28-ounce/800g) can whole peeled tomatoes with juices

– 4 tablespoons (about 65g) tomato paste

– 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

– 1 bay leaf

– ½ teaspoon salt plus more to taste

– ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

---

Instructions

First Step: Prepare the ingredients Finely chop the yellow onion, crush or mince the garlic, and dice the carrot and celery to ensure uniform cooking and a smooth sauce texture.

Second Step: Sauté the vegetables Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook the onion until soft, about 3 to 4 minutes, then add garlic, carrot, and celery. Sauté until the vegetables have softened, approximately 5 to 10 minutes, developing the base flavor.

Third Step: Brown the meats Add the lean ground beef and ground pork to the pan. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat and cook until no pink remains, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary to keep sauce light and healthy.

Fourth Step: Deglaze with wine or broth Pour in the dry red wine or beef broth, simmering uncovered to allow most liquid to evaporate, roughly 10 minutes. This step intensifies the sauce’s flavor and tenderizes the meat.

Fifth Step: Add milk and simmer Stir in the whole milk and continue simmering uncovered until it almost evaporates, approximately 8 to 12 minutes. Milk adds creaminess and balances tomato acidity for smoothness.

Sixth Step: Incorporate tomatoes and seasonings Add the whole peeled tomatoes with juice, crushing them gently by hand or with a spoon. Stir in tomato paste, Italian seasoning or grated nutmeg, and bay leaf. Bring to a gentle simmer.

Seventh Step: Simmer slowly Reduce heat to low and cook the sauce at a very gentle simmer, partially covered, for at least 1 to 1½ hours. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and allow flavors to meld and thicken the sauce deeply.

Final Step: Season and serve Remove the bay leaf and taste the sauce, adding salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed. Serve the bolognese sauce hot over your favorite pasta, such as pappardelle, or vegetable-based noodles. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese or herbs if desired.

Notes

🥩 Combining ground beef and pork enhances both flavor and texture.
🥛 Use whole milk to add richness and balance acidity.
⏳ Simmer sauce slowly for at least 1 to 1½ hours to develop depth.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Simmering time: 1 to 1.5 hours
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Category: Sauce
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving
• Calories: 359-493 kcal
• Sugar: 8-10 g
• Sodium: 570-1070 mg
• Fat: 18-32 g
• Saturated Fat: 6-11 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 14-16 g
• Fiber: 3-5 g
• Protein: 25 g

Keywords: bolognese sauce, meaty sauce, italian sauce, slow simmer sauce