Chef Gigi Gaggero

Ragù Alla Bolognese is ultimate Italian comfort food over pasta or polenta!

You’ll need:

• 1/8 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 carrot, finely diced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 rib celery, finely diced
• 1 clove garlic, sliced
• 1/2 pound veal, ground
• 1/2 pound pork, ground
• 1/2 pound ground round
• 1/4 pound pancetta, chopped fine
• 1/2 cup tomato paste
• 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 1 cup heavy cream or substitute 1 cup dry white wine (optional)
• kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup flat leaf Italian parsley, chopped fine
• Parmigiano-Reggiano, for grating

Here’s how you make it:

1. In a 6- to 8-quart, heavy-bottomed pot heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Cook pancetta until almost brown. Remove with a slotted spoon. Set aside.
2. Add onions, carrot, celery and garlic. Cook over medium heat until the veggies are translucent, but not browned, about 10-15 minutes.
3. Add veal, pork and beef. Return pancetta to the pot. Stir until brown.
4. Add tomato paste, broth and wine. Simmer over medium-low heat for 1 hour. Add cream.
5. Heat to simmer and cook an additional 30 minutes until sauce is reduced and thickens. (Do not boil after addition of cream.) Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve tossed with pasta or topped on warm creamy polenta (get my recipe here). Top with grated cheese and enjoy!