Ingredients
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1 tablespoon vegetable oil
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4 tablespoons butter
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1/2 cup onion, chopped
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2/3 cup celery, chopped
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3/4 lb ground beef (preferably chuck and not too lean)
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salt
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black pepper, freshly ground
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1 cup whole milk
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1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly ground
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1 cup dry white wine
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1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes (canned Italian)
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1 1/4 lbs pasta (fresh weight NOT DRIED)
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parmigiano-reggiano cheese, freshly grated
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2/3 cup carrot, chopped
Instructions
- Put the oil, 3 tbsp butter and chopped onion in the pot, turn the heat to medium and cook, stirring the onion until it becomes translucent.
- Add the celery and carrot and stir for two minutes while cooking to coat them well.
- Add the ground beef, a large pinch of salt and a few grindings of black pepper.
- Cook the beef while crumbling it with a fork until the beef has lost its red colour.
- Add the milk and let it simmer gently, stirring frequently until the milk has completely bubbled away.
- Add the nutmeg.
- Add the wine and let it simmer until it has evaporated.
- Add the tomatoes and stir well. When the tomatoes start to bubble turn the heat down so that it is just simmering with the occasional bubble breaking the surface.
- Cook uncovered for 3 hours, stirring from time to time. While it is cooking you will find the sauce dries out so continue to add a 1/2 cup of water when necessary to stop it sticking. However there should not be water left at the end of the 3 hours. The fat will separate from the sauce and this should happen.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary and toss with the pasta and rest of butter. Serve with parmesan on the side.