Description
A rich and flavorful Hearty Bucatini Bolognese recipe that combines a savory meat sauce with al dente bucatini pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 large onion, finely diced
- 2 carrots, finely diced
- 2 celery stalks, finely diced
- 3–4 garlic cloves, minced
- 500 g ground beef (or half beef, half pork for authentic richness)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 150 ml dry red wine (or white wine)
- 400 g crushed tomatoes or passata
- 250 ml beef broth
- 150 ml whole milk or cream
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt & black pepper
- 1 tsp sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
- 400–500 g bucatini
- Salt for boiling
- Butter or olive oil for finishing
- Fresh parsley or basil for garnish
- Freshly grated Parmesan for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil + butter in a heavy pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery. Sauté 8–10 minutes until soft and lightly golden. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
- Add ground beef. Break it up and cook 8–10 minutes until well browned. Season with salt & pepper.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook 2 minutes to caramelize. Deglaze with wine. Let it reduce by half.
- Add crushed tomatoes, broth, milk, and bay leaf. Reduce heat to low and simmer 1 hour minimum (2–3 hours = deeper, richer, silkier). Adjust seasoning.
- Boil bucatini in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain and toss with a knob of butter or a drizzle of olive oil.
- Add pasta to the sauce. Loosen with a splash of pasta water if needed. Stir until every strand is glossy and coated.
- Top with fresh parsley, a shower of Parmesan, and a drizzle of olive oil (optional) before serving.
Notes
- For a deeper flavor, allow the sauce to simmer for 2–3 hours.
- Feel free to substitute ground beef with ground pork for a different taste.
- Adjust the seasoning according to your preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 70g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg