Hearty Bolognese Sauce: My Family's Real Deal Recipe!

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced (approx. 1 cup/150g)
• 2 medium carrots, finely diced (approx. 1 cup/120g)
• 2 celery stalks, finely diced (approx. 1 cup/120g)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 500g (1.1 lbs) ground beef (chuck or round), 80/20 blend recommended
• 250g (0.55 lbs) ground pork
• 100g (3.5 oz) pancetta or bacon, finely diced (optional, but adds depth)
• 1 cup (240ml) dry red wine (Chianti, Sangiovese, or similar)
• 1 can (796ml/28 oz) crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup (240ml) beef broth or stock
• 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (optional, for richness)
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
• Fresh parsley, chopped for serving