The heart of good cooking is the result of a satisfying meal; one that causes all who have partaken to eat to pat their belly and sigh deep with contentment. And, this is what a well prepared bolognese will do. Rich in texture and loaded with flavor, this hearty meat-sauce is sure to please even the most finicky eater.
This recipe, now tweaked-and-twisted,” was inspired by “Giuseppe’s on 28th,” as featured on “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” Good choice meat for the makings of this hearty-meat dish can be purchased at any of your local San Jose Lucky Stores.
Cook with heart; eat with gusto. Buen Provecho!
This recipe makes 10 hearty servings
Steps 1:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 large sweet onion, coarsely chopped
1 cup carrots, finely chopped
1 cup celery, finely chopped
1 tablespoon oregano
1/2 tablespoon dry thyme
Salt to taste
20 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 6-ounce can of tomato paste
In a sauté pan, heat butter & oil, add onion, carrots, celery and salt, and sauté about 5 minutes; add garlic and tomato paste and cook for about 10 minutes (you want to see brown bit showing), stirring often; set aside.
Steps 2:
2 tablespoons rendered bacon fat (preferred) or lard
2-1/2 pounds of lean ground beef
1 pound ground turkey
1-1/2 pound ground bulk sausage
1 heaping tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon (each) red chili flakes, chipotle and ancho powders
Sautéed vegetables from “steps 1”
1 cup cream sherry
1 cup zinfandel
2 cups chicken stock
1 water (more if needed)
1 15-ounce can of tomato sauce
1-1/2 pound boneless and skinless thighs, chopped
1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
3 bay leaves
In a large, Dutch-oven heat fat, add ground meats (breaking up the big chunks of meat) and cook until meat is just browning. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine well.
Bring to a boil, cover meat-sauce, now bring to a low-simmer and cook for 2 hours.
Steps 3:
1 pound chicken livers, chopped
1 cup heavy cream
To the meat sauce, add the livers and cream, stir well; bring back to a boil, cover, lower heat to low-simmer and cook for 1-1/2 to 2 hours.
Traditionally served over pasta with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese, but can be enjoyed over rice or mashed potatoes.
