Homemade Pappardelle with Bolognese Sauce

A rich and hearty Italian pasta dish featuring homemade pappardelle noodles topped with a complex Bolognese sauce made with four different meats - beef, antelope sausage (or Italian sausage), venison, and bacon - slowly simmered with vegetables, milk, and wine.

8 servings
2 hr 6 min

Ingredients

  • 5 tablespoons butter
  • 7 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cups chopped onions
  • cups chopped celery
  • ¾ cup chopped carrot
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • pounds ground beef
  • pounds antelope sausages
  • ¾ pound ground venison
  • ¾ pound bacon
  • cups whole milk
  • cups dry white wine
  • ¾ cup tomato paste
  • 1 recipe Homemade Pappardelle
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Melt butter with oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add next 4 ingredients. Sauté until vegetables are soft but not brown, 12 to 14 minutes. Add beef, sausage, venison, and bacon. Increase heat to high. Cook until meat is brown, breaking into small pieces with back of spoon, about 15 minutes.

    30 min

  2. 2.

    Stir in milk, wine, and tomato paste. Reduce heat to low. Simmer until sauce is thick, flavors blend, and juices are reduced, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cool 1 hour. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and chill. Rewarm over low heat.

    75 min

  3. 3.

    Cook pasta in very large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring often, 4 to 5 minutes if cooking immediately or 5 to 6 minutes if previously chilled. Drain, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid. Return pasta to same pot. Add warm Bolognese and 1 cup cheese. Toss over medium heat until heated through, adding reserved cooking liquid by 1/4 cupfuls if dry. Season with salt and pepper.

    15 min

  4. 4.

    Transfer pasta to large shallow bowl. Serve, passing additional cheese.

    5 min

  5. 5.

    Pour a medium-bodied red, like the Michele Chiarlo 2007 Barbera d'Asti "Le Orme" ($15, Italy).

    1 min

Recommended to use Recipe Notes to manage your recipes