Ingredients
Method
- Sauté – In a 6-quart Dutch oven or pot over medium heat, add oil and butter. Add onion and stir until it is softened and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add celery and carrots and stir until golden, another 5 minutes. Add garlic and stir for another 30 seconds.
- Add ground beef, 1/2 tsp fine sea salt, and 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper. Cook the beef, breaking it up with a spatula until it’s browned and begins releasing fat and juices, about 5 minutes.
- Add white wine, turn up the heat, and continue stirring until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
- Form the sauce – Add crushed tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups hot water, tomato paste, and parsley, and stir to combine. Stir in the milk.
- Cook – Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to the lowest simmer, partially cover, and continue cooking for at least 1 1/2 hours or preferably 2 hours or until the meat is very tender, stirring occasionally. Add more hot water, 1/2 cup at a time, only as needed to keep the sauce from sticking to the bottom of the pot. When the meat is tender and you’ve reached the consistency of sloppy joes, add more salt to taste and serve.
Notes
Nutrition Facts are for the sauce only and do not include the pasta or parmesan cheese.
Substitutions:
- Meat – swap with 1/2 ground beef and 1/2 ground pork or Italian Sausage.
- Swap chicken, beef, or vegetable broth for the water, but also reduce the salt.
- Use dry red wine or beef stock instead of white wine
- Crush canned whole tomatoes (peeled) instead of using crushed tomatoes.
- Refrigerate in an air-tight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
- Freeze in air-tight, freezer-safe containers or zip-top bags for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
- Reheat in the microwave or on the stove until heated through.