Homemade Tamis Red Sauce Bolognese: A Rich and Flavorful Ground Beef Tomato Sauce

There’s nothing quite like a rich, homemade bolognese sauce simmering on the stove, filling your kitchen with the aroma of tomatoes, herbs, and savory ground beef. This recipe takes the classic Bolognese to the next level by creating a luxuriously smooth and intensely flavorful sauce through the use of a tamis (fine-mesh sieve). While using a tamis isn’t strictly traditional, it elevates the texture and creates a truly exceptional sauce perfect for pasta, lasagna, or any dish that calls for a robust tomato-based sauce.

This recipe provides detailed instructions, tips, and variations to help you create your own signature Tamis Red Sauce Bolognese. Get ready to impress your family and friends with a truly unforgettable meal!

Why Tamis the Sauce?

The primary reason for using a tamis in this Bolognese recipe is to achieve an incredibly smooth and refined texture. While a standard Bolognese is delicious, it often contains small pieces of vegetables and ground beef. The tamis removes these solids, leaving behind a velvety sauce that coats pasta beautifully and melts in your mouth. This process also concentrates the flavors, resulting in a more intense and satisfying taste experience.

Think of it like making a consommé. While the initial broth is flavorful, the clarification process creates an incredibly clear and concentrated broth. The tamis does something similar for the Bolognese sauce, refining the texture and enhancing the overall flavor profile.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Ground Beef: Use a good quality ground beef with a fat content of around 80/20. The fat adds flavor and richness to the sauce.
• Pancetta or Bacon (Optional): Adding pancetta or bacon provides a smoky depth of flavor. Dice it finely and render it before adding the ground beef.
• Onion, Carrot, and Celery (Sofrito): These vegetables form the base of the Bolognese and contribute sweetness and complexity. Dice them finely and sauté them slowly to develop their flavors.
• Garlic: Garlic adds a pungent and aromatic note to the sauce. Mince it finely or use a garlic press.
• Tomato Paste: Tomato paste adds concentrated tomato flavor and helps to thicken the sauce.
• Dry Red Wine: Red wine adds acidity, tannins, and complex flavors to the sauce. Choose a dry red wine like Chianti, Sangiovese, or Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Canned Crushed Tomatoes: Use good quality canned crushed tomatoes. San Marzano tomatoes are a great option.
• Beef Broth or Stock: Beef broth adds depth and richness to the sauce. Use homemade or a good quality store-bought broth.
• Milk or Cream (Optional): Adding a touch of milk or cream at the end of cooking adds richness and helps to balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
• Fresh Herbs: Fresh herbs like bay leaf, thyme, and rosemary add aromatic complexity. Tie them together with kitchen twine for easy removal.
• Olive Oil: Use a good quality olive oil for sautéing the vegetables and ground beef.
• Salt and Black Pepper: Season the sauce to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Equipment You’ll Need

• Large Pot or Dutch Oven: A large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven is ideal for making Bolognese sauce. It will help to distribute heat evenly and prevent scorching.
• Large Skillet or Frying Pan: For browning the ground beef.
• Tamis (Fine-Mesh Sieve): A tamis is essential for creating the smooth texture of this sauce.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula: For stirring the sauce and scraping the bottom of the pot.
• Ladle: For transferring the sauce to the tamis.
• Kitchen Twine (Optional): For tying the herbs together.

Detailed Recipe Instructions

Follow these step-by-step instructions to create your own delicious Tamis Red Sauce Bolognese:

Step 1: Prepare the Sofrito

1. Finely dice the onion, carrot, and celery. The smaller the dice, the smoother the final sauce will be.
2. Heat a few tablespoons of olive oil in the large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
3. Add the diced onion, carrot, and celery to the pot and sauté for 8-10 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened and translucent. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
4. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
5. Remove the sofrito from the pot and set aside.

Step 2: Brown the Ground Beef

1. In a large skillet or frying pan, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat.
2. Add the ground beef to the skillet and break it up with a wooden spoon or spatula.
3. Cook the ground beef until it is browned and cooked through. Drain off any excess grease.
4. If using pancetta or bacon, dice it finely and render it in the skillet before adding the ground beef.
5. Season the ground beef with salt and pepper.

Step 3: Combine and Simmer

1. Add the browned ground beef to the pot with the sofrito.
2. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the tomato paste darkens slightly. This helps to caramelize the tomato paste and develop its flavor.
3. Pour in the dry red wine and bring to a simmer, scraping the bottom of the pot to deglaze any browned bits. Cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the wine has reduced slightly.
4. Add the canned crushed tomatoes, beef broth, and fresh herbs (tied together).
5. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for at least 2-3 hours, or even longer if you have the time. The longer the sauce simmers, the more the flavors will meld together and deepen. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
6. If the sauce becomes too thick during simmering, add a little more beef broth or water to thin it out.

Step 4: Tamis the Sauce

1. Remove the herb bundle from the sauce.
2. Place the tamis over a clean bowl.
3. Using a ladle, transfer the sauce to the tamis, a little at a time.
4. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to press the sauce through the tamis. This will separate the solids from the liquid.
5. Discard the solids that remain in the tamis.
6. Repeat the process until all of the sauce has been tamised.

Step 5: Finish and Serve

1. Return the tamised sauce to the pot.
2. If desired, stir in a touch of milk or cream to add richness and balance the acidity.
3. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
4. Simmer the sauce for another 15-20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
5. Serve the Tamis Red Sauce Bolognese over your favorite pasta, such as tagliatelle, pappardelle, or rigatoni.
6. Garnish with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.

Tips and Variations

• Add Meat: In addition to ground beef, you can add other meats to the Bolognese sauce, such as ground pork, veal, or sausage.
• Vegetarian Option: To make a vegetarian Bolognese, substitute the ground beef with lentils, mushrooms, or other vegetables.
• Spice it Up: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce for a little heat.
• Sweeten it Up: A pinch of sugar can help balance the acidity of the tomatoes, especially if you’re using a variety that is more acidic.
• Slow Cooker: This recipe can easily be adapted for the slow cooker. Brown the ground beef and sauté the vegetables as directed, then transfer everything to the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Tamis the sauce as directed.
• Pressure Cooker: For a faster version, use a pressure cooker. Brown the ground beef and sauté the vegetables as directed, then transfer everything to the pressure cooker and cook on high pressure for 20-25 minutes. Release the pressure naturally and tamis the sauce as directed.
• Add Vegetables: Feel free to add other vegetables to the sauce, such as mushrooms, zucchini, or bell peppers.
• Fresh Tomatoes: If you have fresh tomatoes, you can use them instead of canned crushed tomatoes. Peel and chop the fresh tomatoes before adding them to the sauce. You’ll need approximately 2 pounds of fresh tomatoes.
• Storage: The Tamis Red Sauce Bolognese can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
• Reheating: Reheat the sauce gently over low heat, stirring occasionally. If the sauce is too thick, add a little water or beef broth to thin it out.

Serving Suggestions

This Tamis Red Sauce Bolognese is incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes. Here are a few serving suggestions:

• Pasta: Serve it over your favorite pasta, such as tagliatelle, pappardelle, rigatoni, or spaghetti.
• Lasagna: Use it as a layer in your favorite lasagna recipe.
• Baked Ziti: Toss it with cooked ziti and bake with mozzarella cheese for a comforting baked ziti dish.
• Polenta: Serve it over creamy polenta for a hearty and flavorful meal.
• Meatballs: Use it as a sauce for your favorite meatball recipe.
• Pizza: Use it as a base for a gourmet pizza.
• Stuffed Peppers: Use it as a filling for stuffed peppers.

Nutritional Information (Approximate, per serving)

The following nutritional information is an estimate and will vary depending on the specific ingredients used:

• Calories: 400-500
• Protein: 30-40g
• Fat: 20-30g
• Carbohydrates: 20-30g

Enjoy!

This Tamis Red Sauce Bolognese is a labor of love, but the results are well worth the effort. The smooth texture and intense flavor will elevate your pasta dishes to a whole new level. So, gather your ingredients, grab your tamis, and get ready to create a truly unforgettable meal!