Best Classic Brooklyn Italian Meat Sauce Recipes

CLASSIC BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Heat a large, heavy pot over medium heat. Add EVOO, 2 turns of the pan. Add the butter to the oil in small pieces and when the butter foams, add the onions, carrots, celery, garlic and bay and stir, about 5 minutes. Add pancetta and stir 8 to 10 more minutes to render and crisp. Add about a third of the beef and crumble it with a wooden paddle or spoon, let all of the liquid absorb and let the meat begin to lightly caramelize before adding the next third; repeat. Season the meat with salt, pepper, white pepper and nutmeg. Add white wine, about a quarter to a third of a bottle, then stir and let it absorb into the meat. Scrape up all of the fond or the drippings from the meats and vegetables, being careful not to burn the meat. Add milk, tomatoes and about 1 cup stock, a piece of cheese rind from Parmigiano-Reggiano if you have one, then lower heat to simmer, partially cover and cook the sauce 2 1/2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally and thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Add up to 1 extra cup of stock if needed if sauce gets too thick. The perfect traditional Bolognese should be buttery, uniform and emulsified, the consistency of rich, tender, pourable oatmeal. Remove bay leaf and the rind, if using, from the sauce. Sauce may be made a few days ahead as the longer it sets, the better it gets.
• To serve, cook pasta in salted water 1 minute less than package directions for al dente. Reserve 1 full cup of starchy cooking water, then drain pasta and place back in hot pot.
• Combine pasta with about two-thirds of the sauce, the cooking water and a couple of handfuls of grated cheese, tossing with tongs to combine.
• Serve pasta in shallow bowls with a little torn basil.

OLD ITALIAN MEAT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, brown beef and pork over medium heat until no longer pink; set aside.
• In a large skillet, warm olive oil over medium heat and saute onions and garlic until tender; add about 1/2 cup of wine; mix well.
• Add mushrooms, rosemary, oregano and thyme to skillet and add another 1/2 cup wine; saute until tender.
• Add browned meat, tomato sauce and tomato paste to mixture; simmer for 1 hour and add the remaining 2 cups of wine.
• Simmer sauce on low for 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally; serve.

CLASSIC BROOKLYN-ITALIAN MEAT SAUCE

Steps:

• Add olive oil to a large pot over medium-high heat; allow time for the oil to heat.
• Add in the garlic and onions; stir/saute for 5 minutes.
• Add in the carrots and celery; stir/saute for 5 minutes.
• Push the vegetables to one side of the pot and add about 1/3 of the ground beef; salt the beef to taste.
• Cook about 3-5 minutes or until starts to brown (stir the beef, breaking it up as you stir).
• Push beef to the side (or over the vegetables) and repeat with the second third of the beef.
• After that starts to brown, push it aside and repeat with the remainder of the beef.
• When all the beef is done, mix the beef and vegetables together.
• Add in the tomatoes with juice, tomato paste, sugar, and oregano.
• Mix well; simmer for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally (break up the tomatoes against the side of the pot as you stir).
• When the sauce is done, season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Serve immediately or freeze for later use.