Rustic Crockpot Bolognese Sauce



Rustic Crockpot Bolognese Sauce
Makes enough sauce for 4 lbs of pasta

Ingredients:
3 T unsalted butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
3 large carrots, finely chopped
3 ribs of celery, finely chopped
5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 pounds Italian sausage (casings removed)
1 pound ground beef
1 can tomato paste
2 teaspoons dried thyme
3 cups whole milk
3 cups dry white wine
Two 28 ounce cans of diced tomatoes*
salt and pepper

Directions:
Heat butter in a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium high heat until foaming. Add onion, carrot, and celery and cook until softened, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.  Add the Italian sausage and ground beef, breaking it apart with your spoon and cooking until it is just browned. Add tomato paste and thyme, stirring until well combined.

Add milk, bring to a rigorous simmer, and cook until milk evaporates and only clear fat remains on the surface of the sauce, about 10-15 minutes. Add wine and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Transfer mixture to the slow -cooker, cover, and set temperature to high.

When the sauce comes to a boil in the slow cooker, tip the lid so that the cooker is only partially covered, and allow the sauce to simmer for at least ten and up to 12 hours.  The sauce should be very thick.
Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.

Freezes well. Store in airtight containers for up to three months.

*If you prefer a smoother, less rustic sauce, use crushed tomatoes or tomato puree.


©BURP!

7 comments:

LM said...

I Love bolognese more than just about anything. Will have to try this!

Anonymous said...

Hello. I am in the process of making your sauce, right now. I have just added the milk and thought that this was a strange/unique addition of ingredients. I wondered what your reason for the milk might be. Maybe it enhances flavor?
Curiously,
Sha

ps. The sauce, thus far, is tasty and incredibly aromatic!! Yum.

Lo said...

Glad to hear you enjoyed the sauce! Actually milk is a very traditional ingredient in bolognese. It adds a richness, as well as tenderizing the meat -- or so I've heard!

Birdiesbuddy said...

That is true about true Bolognese Sauce, the milk that is. this looks easy so I'll try it.

Anonymous said...

I just wanted swing by again, after making your recipe about half a dozen times now, and rave about how delicious it is - that I keep coming back for more! It also makes for a great topping on Spaghetti Squash.

Happy Crockpot,
Sha

Lo said...

Sha - So glad you have enjoyed it! It's definitely one of the staples at our house!
Lori

ShaMak said...

Hello Lori! It's been over 10 years (to my surprise)! I was casually reading the comments and forgot I had commented all those years ago. Then I thought how cute to comment again now. My 8 year old son especially loves loves loves this bolognese and we're having it again for dinner tonight so I popped on to look for your recipe which is truly the best of the best of the best-best-est!!! I was just thinking that if we've made this a couple of times a month for over a decade it would stand to reason that we've eaten this bolognese deliciousness at least and/or over 250 times! Here's looking forward to ten more years, LoL!

Sha