Italian Sausage Bolognese

An easy Italian Sausage Bolognese perfect for chilly evenings.

📝 Ingredients

• 2 large carrots
• 2 celery stalks
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1/2 of a large yellow onion
• 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 lb. Italian sausage
• 2 cups hearty red wine (Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlots, or Syrahs work well)
• 1/2 cup tomato paste
• 2-4 cups water (you may not need it all)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 lb. pasta (I used spaghetti)
• 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese, for garnishing (optional)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1In a food processor, puree carrots, celery, garlic, and onion until they form a thick paste.
2. 2In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add vegetable puree, salt and pepper. Saute until veggies are cooked and browned, about 10 minutes. You’ll deglaze the pan later, so don’t be afraid if the veggies stick a bit.
3. 3Add Italian sausage to the pan. Break it apart with a spoon or spatula as you cook it and saute until meat is browned and cooked through, about 8 minutes.
4. 4Add tomato paste to the pan. Stir to incorporate the paste with the other ingredients and cook 1 minute.
5. 5Add 1/2 cup of the red wine and stir to break up any clumps of meat and veggies. Add the remaining red wine and bay leaves and bring to a simmer.
6. 6Cook until red wine has reduced by half, about 10-15 minutes.
7. 7Add 1 cup of the water. Bring back to a low simmer and cook until water has reduced by half, about 15-20 minutes. Repeat, adding 1 cup of water and reducing, until you are ready to eat. This is where the flavor really builds – keep adding water and reducing as needed! This is also the right time to add additional seasoning. When you’re ready to eat, reduce the sauce one final time until it reaches your desired consistency.
8. 8Cook pasta according to package or recipe directions until 1 minute less than al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
9. 9Add reserved pasta water to sauce and mix to incorporate. Top pasta with bolognese sauce and shredded parmesan cheese and serve immediately.