Slow-cooked Tuscan meat sauce infused with vegetables, wine, and herbs, perfect with pasta or polenta.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 14 oz ground beef
02 - 7 oz ground pork
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 medium carrots, finely diced
05 - 2 celery stalks, finely diced
06 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
→ Liquids
07 - 2/3 cup dry red wine
08 - 21 oz canned whole tomatoes, crushed by hand
09 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
10 - 3/4 cup beef or chicken stock
11 - 1/3 cup plus 1 tbsp whole milk
→ Fats & Seasonings
12 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
13 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
14 - 1 bay leaf
15 - 1 tsp dried oregano
16 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
17 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
18 - Salt, to taste
→ To Serve
19 - Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (optional)
20 - Cooked pasta or polenta
# Steps to Follow:
01 - Heat olive oil and butter in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery; sauté for 7 to 8 minutes until softened and translucent.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Incorporate ground beef and pork, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook until browned and moisture evaporates, about 10 minutes.
04 - Add tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Pour in red wine, scraping the pot to loosen browned bits; simmer until nearly evaporated, approximately 3 minutes.
05 - Mix in crushed tomatoes, stock, bay leaf, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
06 - Bring to gentle simmer, partially cover, and cook over low heat for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
07 - Stir in milk and continue simmering uncovered for 20 minutes until sauce is rich and thick. Adjust seasoning if needed.
08 - Remove bay leaf. Serve warm over cooked pasta or polenta topped with Parmigiano-Reggiano grated cheese, if desired.
