Fettuccine Bolognese in 45 Minutes
Serves 4
15 mins prep
45 mins cook
60 mins total
A thick, soul-satisfying Bolognese that's ready in under an hour. Fair warning — the smell will have everyone in the kitchen before you've even set the table.
To serve
Place a 12-inch deep saute pan over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil to the pan. When the butter has melted and is no longer foaming, add ½ cup finely chopped onion, ½ cup finely chopped carrot, ½ cup finely chopped celery and ½ teaspoon of the salt. Cook 2-3 minutes, stirring to coat the vegetables in the fat, until the onion is translucent.
Add 1 pound ground beef, breaking up clumps with a fork or a spatula. Cook until it's no longer pink, 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally to mix the meat with the vegetables.
Pour in 1 cup whole milk, then add 1 clove finely chopped garlic and ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg. Turn the heat up to medium-high and bring to a lively simmer. Cook, stirring frequently, until the milk is almost completely evaporated, 10-15 minutes. It's okay if the mixture looks a bit curdled at this point.
Push the meat and vegetables to the sides of the pan and add ¼ cup tomato paste to the center. Let it cook in the fat for about 30 seconds, then stir it in to blend with the meat mixture.
Pour in 1 cup dry white wine, ½ cup chicken broth and another ½ teaspoon salt. Stir well to combine. Bring to a simmer. Cook until the liquid has bubbled away and the sauce is thickened, which should take 20-25 minutes. Stir frequently as it cooks, and adjust the heat as needed to be sure the sauce doesn't begin to stick to the bottom of the pan.
Stir in ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese and 2 tablespoons chopped parsley. Taste the sauce and add more salt, if needed, and black pepper to taste. Add ½ pound cooked fettuccine pasta, or your choice of pasta to a serving bowl. Add the sauce and toss to coat. Serve right away and enjoy!