Bolognese Ragu

We at Lucini Italia Co. were founded on the belief that great tasting food comes directly from the most high-quality and authentic ingredients. That’s why we’ve made it our goal to produce the best in organic olive oil, handcrafted sauces, and vinaigrettes. With the help of our natural ingredients, we aim to improve our customers’ experiences when eating gourmet Italian food. As an example, we’ve provided our delicious EVOO-inspired Bolognese ragu recipe for you to try out. It’s a new twist on an old classic!

A Modification of a Classic

Since Bolognese ragu is such a staple when it comes to Italian cuisine, it’s obvious that we had to have our own take on it! Our own recipe includes the usage of our organic olive oil in addition to a variety of vegetables and red wine to give it added flavor. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Ingredients

• Lucini® Premium Select Extra Virgin Olive Oil®
• 2 tbsp butter
• 3 lbs of any mix of ground pork, veal, and beef
• 1 celery stalk, diced
• 1 carrot, diced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup of red wine
• 1/2 oz dried porcini mushrooms
• 10 sage leaves
• 1/3 cup tomato paste
• 6 cups meat broth
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• Salt

Instructions

Season the ground meat liberally. Add 3 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil to a good heavy bottomed pot and heat to medium-high. Add the ground meat and let sizzle in the oil. Do not move or touch the meat, just allow it to brown gently in the fat. Add the butter. Once the bottom side is nicely browned, flip it over and allow the other side to brown. This whole process should take about 30 minutes. If you notice excess fat at this point, drain it from the pot, but do not take out all the fat. Add in the diced vegetables and allow them to soften around the meat. Next add in the dried porcinis, sage and red wine. Allow the red wine to simmer for a few minutes and then add in the meat broth, making sure to scrape the bottom of the pot so that the brown bits that have stuck are now lifted. Bring to a slow simmer and allow to simmer for 1 1/2 to 3 hours depending on the meat used. The final product should be tender meat and liquid that has evaporated and thickened enough so that everything looks cohesive. Stir in your heavy cream and season as desired. Continue simmering for another 20 minutes. Serve with your favorite Delverde Pasta. - Courtesy of Chef Danielle Alvarez A wonderful meat sauce originating in Bologna, Italy. Traditionally paired with tagliatelle pasta, but can be served with any favorite pasta shape. Pair with a Sangiovese red wine from Tuscany.