Ragu Bolognese
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 medium onions, finely chopped
- 4 ribs celery, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, finely chopped
- 5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 pound ground veal
- 1 pound ground pork
- 4 ounces pancetta or slab bacon, run through the medium holes of the butcher's grinder
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 recipe Green Pasta Dough, recipe follows
- Salt
- Ice cubes
- 1 cup packed spinach, cleaned
- 5 large eggs
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for kneading
- In a 6 to 8 quart heavy-bottomed pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat until hot.
- Add the onions, celery, carrots and garlic and cook until the vegetables are translucent but not browned, about 5 minutes.
- Add the veal, pork and pancetta, increase heat to high, and brown the meat, stirring frequently.
- Add the tomato paste, milk, wine, and thyme and bring just to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
- Season the ragu with salt and pepper, remove from the heat, and let cool if not using immediately.
- (The ragu can be refrigerated for up to 2 days; it can also be frozen for up to 1 month).
- Toss with the green tagliatelle and serve, garnished with cheese, if desired.
- Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot, and add 1 tablespoon salt.
- Set up an ice bath next to the stove.
- Blanch 1 cup packed spinach leaves in the boiling water for 45 seconds, then remove with tongs or a slotted spoon and immediately plunge into the ice bath to cool for 2 minutes.
- Drain the spinach and squeeze dry in a kitchen towel, removing as much moisture as possible.
- Chop the spinach very fine and combine with the eggs in a small bowl.
- Stir well until as smooth as possible.
- Mound the flour in the center of a large wooden board.
- Make a well in the center of the flour and add the egg and spinach mixture to the well.
- Begin to incorporate the flour into the egg and spinach mixture, starting with the inner rim of the well.
- As you expand the well, keep pushing the flour up to retain the well shape (do not worry if it looks messy).
- When half of the flour is incorporated, the dough will begin to come together.
- Start kneading the dough, using primarily the palms of your hands.
- Once the dough is a cohesive mass, set the dough aside and scrape up and discard any dried bits of dough.
- Lightly flour the board and continue kneading for 10 minutes, dusting the board with additional flour, as necessary.
- The dough should be elastic and a little sticky.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and allow to rest for 30 minutes at room temperature before using.
- Use the wider cutter attachment of the pasta machine to cut the sheets into 1/2-inch-wide strips.
- Or, to cut the pasta by hand, cut each sheet of pasta into 10-inch lengths.
- Brush lightly with flour, then roll up the sheet, and, using a sharp knife, cut into 1/4-inch-wide strips; unroll.
- Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente.
- Yield: about 1 1/4 pounds
extravirgin olive oil, onions, celery, carrots, garlic, ground veal, ground pork, pancetta, tomato paste, milk, white wine, thyme, salt, salt, cubes, eggs, flour
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mario-batali/ragu-bolognese-recipe4.html (may not work)