Tortellini Bolognese

5.00 (15)
⏱ 75 mins 🍽 4 serving(s) 🏷 European

This recipe recreates a memorable restaurant-style Bolognese sauce to serve over cheese tortellini. It begins by cooking bacon, then aromatic vegetables, before adding ground sirloin and pork. The sauce is built with red wine and beef broth, simmered with tomato paste and herbs, and finished with a touch of cream. The dish is completed with freshly cooked tortellini and a garnish of Parmesan cheese.

Tortellini Bolognese

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 slices bacon, finely chopped
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, finely chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3/4 lb ground sirloin
  • 1/2 lb ground pork
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine, divided
  • 2 cups beef broth, divided
  • 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 lb frozen cheese tortellini
  • freshly grated parmesan cheese

Method

  1. Warm the olive oil in a large, deep skillet.
  2. Cook the finely chopped bacon until it is lightly browned, for about 3 minutes, then drain the grease.
  3. Place the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic into the skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion softens.
  4. Crumble the ground sirloin and pork into the skillet.
  5. Cook the meat until it is no longer pink, which takes about 10 minutes.
  6. Pour in half of the dry red wine and half of the beef broth.
  7. Let the mixture cook until the liquid is nearly absorbed, for about 15 minutes.
  8. Reduce the heat and mix in the tomato paste, salt, black pepper, parsley, and basil.
  9. Add the remaining wine and beef broth to the skillet.
  10. Cover the skillet and let the sauce simmer for 20 minutes.
  11. While the sauce simmers, cook the frozen cheese tortellini as directed on its package.
  12. After the 20 minute simmer, stir the heavy cream into the sauce and warm it through.
  13. Serve the sauce spooned over the cooked tortellini and top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
  14. For a smoother sauce texture and to save time, you can finely chop the bacon, onion, carrots, and celery using a food processor.

Nutrition (per serving)

Sodium1913500 mg

Recipe details

CategoryEuropean
AuthorChristmas Carol