Deliciously Slow Cooked Linguine Bolognese

I have been craving this gorgeous yet simple dish since the last time we slipped it into our mouths. A few weeks ago we were getting tired of grubbing on all the same old Christmas time foods so I slipped in this pasta to mix things up. (Yes, I know I’m just wild like that!) Not your traditional holiday meal, but seriously, everyone adored it and there wasn’t a speck left. But since I’m continuing on the master cleanse for 4 more days, this tasty Italian delight will just have to wait. Find out more about my master cleanse journey here.

This recipe turns out the best if you stick to the instructions precisely. Adding the milk and cream mixture every 15/20 minutes and allowing the sauce to simmer for the full hour and a half is key.

Linguine Bolognese

Courtesy of Emeril Lagasse

You’ll need:

• 6 ounces bacon or pancetta, diced
• 1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion
• 1 1/4 cups finely chopped carrots
• 3/4 cup finely chopped celery
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 pounds ground chuck
• 4 teaspoons white wine vinegar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1/3 cup tomato paste
• 3 cups reduced-sodium beef broth
• 1 1/4 cups whole milk
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 pound linguine pasta, prepared according to package directions
• Finely grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Preparation:

In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, cook the bacon until it is crisp and has released almost all of its fat, about 6 minutes. This is called rendering.

Add the onion, carrots, celery, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are very soft and lightly browned around the edges, about 6 minutes.

Add the ground chuck and cook, stirring to break up any clumps, until the meat is browned, about 5 minutes.

Add the vinegar, garlic, and tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

Add the beef broth and bring to a boil. Lower the heat so that the sauce just simmers. Simmer, partially covered, for 15 minutes.

Combine the milk and cream in a small mixing bowl. After the sauce has simmered for 15 minutes, and at even intervals, start adding the milk-cream mixture little by little–1/4 cup or so at a time over 11/2 hours. By the end of the 11/2 hours, the milk mixture should be completely incorporated and the sauce should be very thick and creamy. This sauce is not supposed to be very “saucy”– it should be tender morsels of meat coated by a thick, creamy sauce.

Transfer the cooked pasta to a large heatproof bowl and add the sauce. Toss the pasta with the sauce and serve immediately, garnished with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Let me know how you like it! Enjoy.