• Make-Ahead
• Staff Favorite

Ingredients

1. 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2. 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3. 4 garlic cloves, minced
4. 3 ounces thinly sliced pancetta, finely chopped
5. 1 medium carrot, finely diced
6. 1 medium onion, finely diced
7. 1 celery rib, finely diced
8. 1 pound coarsely ground beef chuck
9. 1 pound coarsely ground pork
10. 1/4 pound mortadella, cut into 1/4-inch dice (optional)
11. 1 tablespoon tomato paste
12. 1 cup dry white wine
13. One 28-ounce can Italian whole tomatoes, chopped, juices reserved
14. 1 1/2 cups chicken or beef stock or low-sodium broth
15. 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
16. 3 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
17. 2 tablespoons chopped basil
18. Salt and freshly ground pepper
19. 1 pound spaghetti
20. 1/4 cup heavy cream
21. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Directions

1. In a medium enameled cast-iron casserole, melt the butter in the oil. Add the garlic, pancetta, carrot, onion and celery and cook over moderately low heat until the onion is golden, about 5 minutes. Add the ground beef and pork and cook over moderate heat, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until no pink remains, about 8 minutes. Stir in the mortadella and tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add the wine and cook, stirring, until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their juices, the stock, nutmeg and 1 tablespoon each of the parsley and basil and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until very thick, about 1 1/2 hours. Keep warm. 
2. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the spaghetti until al dente. Drain and return it to the pot. 
3. Stir the cream and the remaining 2 tablespoons of parsley and 1 tablespoon of basil into the meat sauce. Season the sauce with salt and pepper, then add 2 cups to the spaghetti and toss. Transfer the spaghetti to a large bowl, top with the remaining sauce and serve. Pass the Parmesan cheese at the table.

Make Ahead

The Bolognese sauce can be refrigerated for up to 5 days.