With temperatures starting to dip onto the lower side and fall hitting its ark, nothing else tastes better than a carb-filled, hearty plate of pasta. For this week of “I Made It So You Don’t Have To,” we are going to be winning over every guest on your pasta night with this simple but absolutely delicious Bolognese recipe.
As per usual, we consult TikTok for this. I have seen a fair share of impressive Bolognese recipes and I’m sure they have crossed your “For You” pages as well. But I think simplicity is a virtue, especially for us college students. I am going to give a shoutout to one of my absolute favorite food TikTokers, @Sad_papi who showcases some of the most creative cooking techniques and flavor combinations I have seen. Ironically, this recipe goes against the usual values to an extent and perfected the “simpler is better” methodology.
As with typical recipe finds, it is better to stop contemplating and admiring; just dive right in!
In making this, I will reveal that I messed up the order of steps that was suggested in the walk-through, but in cooking, it is essential that you are able to withstand making mistakes. Although the recipe suggests cooking the meat first, I cut up the vegetables and added them to the pan, but quickly realized my error and took them out and added in the meat instead.
First, add in the meat to a boiling pot; I used one pound of ground pork and one pound of ground beef (85/15 — which refers to the leanness and fat content of the meat). I typically like a touch more fat to it because it renders off and creates an oil base to cook the meat without using too much olive oil. Cook at medium high temperature until the meat turns slightly brown. If the meat sticks to the bottom do not freak out!
This recipe gives you the chance to practice your knife skills and perfect the “big three” of vegetables in red sauce (celery, carrots and onion). But, if you want to save time and avoid chopping for 15 minutes, then you can add them to a blender. Blend them until the chopped vegetables are about the size of a pea. Once the meat is finished remove it from the pan but keep the burnt bits in there. Add the chopped vegetables and tomato paste and stir it all together. Let them sit for about four to five minutes at medium heat. Now here’s where the fun comes in. Add about half a cup of red wine, and let it boil and pick up all of those burnt bits at the bottom of the pan. Also, add in your thyme.
Now it is time to add in the bulk elements of the sauce. Add in the contents of your 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes and milk. In the video, I thought it was smart how he added the milk first to the can to get rid of the rest of remaining tomatoes and then transferred it to the pot. Throw in your meat, then add three bay leaves and a slice of parmesan (or if using grated, you can add about three tablespoons). Add about one-third cup of water, cover with the lid and lower the heat to let it simmer for about 35-40 minutes.
I find that this is a perfect time to wash used dishes, boil the pasta or even enjoy a glass of wine if you are of age. When you have about 15 minutes remaining, get your pasta ready. You can get creative with what kind of pasta you use but I thought that Orecchiette was great since it cups and holds some of the sauce.
Add about a tablespoon of salt and a teaspoon of pepper. If you want the sauce to be dense, add a splash of heavy cream. Although this is not required, I like a thicker sauce. If you overdo it, you can always add pasta water. Taste and adjust seasoning to your preferences. My general rule of thumb: If you want it sharper, add red pepper flakes and salt; if you want it denser, add heavy cream or milk and parmesan cheese. Regardless, add in about an eighth cup of pasta water, drain out the pasta and mix everything in.
If you are hosting a pasta night this is certainly the showstopper, and if you are attending one, bringing this will make everyone else wish they stepped up their game. This comfortably makes food for four people, so it is perfect for meal prepping for the week. Also, it’s very filling so if you want a dish to make you want to enjoy a nap later this is the recipe for you.
This is one of those dishes that once you master the basics of it, you can get very creative with some of the ingredients and make it your own. Once you find this dish on TikTok, before chopping the vegetables, make sure you have watched it several times before proceeding any steps.
Ingredients:
- One Large yellow onion (diced)
- Two Celery sprigs (diced)
- Two-to-Three Carrots (diced)
- One 28oz can of crushed tomatoes
- One bay leaf
- One lb of 85/15 ground pork
- One lb of 85/15 ground beef
- One-half cup red wine (I used Malbec) ** Not required
- One cup whole milk
- One Tsp Thyme
- Salt
- Pepper
- Three Tbsp tomato paste
- One lb Orecchiette Pasta
Ingredient Price (not including salt/pepper): ~ $39.50
Recipe Rank: 4.75/5