Description
A hearty and comforting Rigatoni Bolognese featuring tender rigatoni pasta with a rich, slow-simmered meat sauce made from a blend of ground beef and pork, tomatoes, herbs, and red wine. Perfect for cozy family meals, this classic Italian dish is easy to prepare and deeply satisfying, delivering rich, layered flavors that bring warmth and togetherness to your table.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 400g rigatoni pasta (ridged tubes)
Meat Sauce
- 250g ground beef
- 250g ground pork
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 medium carrot, finely chopped
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 400g crushed tomatoes (canned)
- 120ml red wine
- 120ml milk or cream
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp dried oregano (or 1 tbsp fresh)
- 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped (plus extra for garnish)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Base: Finely chop the onion, carrot, and celery to create the soffritto. Sauté these vegetables in olive oil and butter over medium heat until softened and natural sweetness develops, about 7-10 minutes.
- Brown the Meat: Add the ground beef and pork mixture to the pan. Cook while breaking it apart with a spoon until fully browned and no longer pink, building the flavor base of the sauce.
- Add Aromatics and Deglaze: Stir in minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in red wine to deglaze the pan, scraping any browned bits off the bottom to intensify the sauce flavor.
- Simmer the Sauce: Add crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, oregano, and basil. Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer gently for at least 45 minutes to meld flavors.
- Finish with Milk and Seasoning: Stir in a splash of milk or cream toward the end of cooking to soften acidity and enrich texture. Adjust seasoning as needed.
- Cook the Rigatoni: Boil rigatoni in generously salted water until al dente. Drain well to avoid sogginess.
- Combine and Serve: Toss the hot pasta into the sauce ensuring every piece is coated. Finish with freshly grated Parmesan and chopped basil. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Simmer sauce low and slow for deeper flavor development.
- Use a blend of ground beef and pork for best texture and taste.
- Adding milk tenderizes meat and balances acidity.
- Cook pasta just until al dente to prevent mushiness.
- Salt pasta water generously to season pasta from the start.
- Add fresh herbs at the end or as garnish for bright flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
Keywords: Rigatoni Bolognese, Italian, pasta, meat sauce, comforting dinner, family meal, easy recipe