Tagliatelle with Bolognese Sauce

Anyone else suffering from post-Easter depression today?  Today, I'm missing the college kids that and their friends that were home for the weekend.  I'm missing the friends and family that came together around my kitchen to celebrate the risen King.  I'm missing all the extra hands that I had in the kitchen to prepare the all of the amazing meals that we enjoyed last weekend. 

This week I'm back to fixing dinner by myself so fortunately I've got a more manageable number to cook for.  Before I get completely out of the "cooking for a crowd" mode though - I think I'll make a big batch of bolognese sauce this week.  I like to keep extra pasta sauce in my freezer for especially busy days when I just don't have the time to make dinner.  

Tagliatte with Bolognese Sauce
1 pound 93% lean ground beef
2 Tablespoons water
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
salt and pepper
4 cups beef broth
6 ounces pancetta
1 onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 celery rib, chopped
1 Tablespoon butter
1 Tablespoon olive oil
3 Tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup dry red wine
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 pound tagliatelle
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Toss beef with water, baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.  Set aside. 

Bring broth to a boil in large pot.  Reduce to 2 cups.
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Pulse pancetta in food process or chopped.  

Heat butter and oil in dutch oven.  Add pancetta mixture and 1/4 t. pepper.  Cook until liquid evaporates. (8 minutes)

Stir in tomato paste and cook 2 minutes longer. 

Stir in wine and cook until liquid evaporates.  
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Add onion, carrot and celery.  Pulse until paste-like.

Spread mixture in evenly in bottom of pot.  Cook 7-12 minutes longer until very dark brown.
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Add beef and cook 4-7 minutes.  

Stir in broth and Parmesan.  Bring to a simmer.  Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer 30 minutes. 

Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper. Cook pasta with 1 T. salt until al dente. 

Add sauce to pasta.  Adjust consistency with reserved pasta water.  

Serve.

My family really enjoyed this bolognese sauce.  It would be great on any pasta really - not JUST tagliatte.  Choose your family's favorite pasta and give it a try.  

​Ciao!

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