Big Batch Bolognese Recipe

• Yield: 6 qts (5 ¾ liters) sauce

• Cook Time: 6 hours

• Age: 6 months+

Recipe By Solid Starts

Ingredients

• 2 lb (908 g) ground pork

• 1 lb (454 g) ground beef

• 1 c (240 ml) olive oil

• 1 large onion

• 8 garlic cloves

• 3 6-oz (170-g) cans tomato paste

• 5 28-oz (794-g) cans diced tomatoes

• 4 bay leaves

Modifications

• Meat - This recipe works with any ground red meat. Try ground bison or venison. 

• Seasonings - Add basil, rosemary, or any herb that you want baby to learn to love. Babies develop tastes for foods that they try early and often. 

Directions

1. Defrost frozen meat in the refrigerator the day before you plan to cook it. 

2. Heat ½ c (120 ml) of the oil in a large skillet on medium heat. 

3. While the oil is warming, peel and finely chop the onions and garlic. 

4. When the oil shimmers, add the onion and garlic and stir to coat. Cook until the onion has softened, about 5 minutes.

5. Add the meat to the onions in the skillet. Break the meat into crumbles and stir to combine the ingredients. Cook until the meat is browned, about 15 minutes. 

6. Stir in the tomato paste. Cook until the tomato paste starts to brown, about 5 minutes.

7. Dump the canned tomatoes with their juices into a large pot set on medium-high heat. When the mixture reaches a simmer, add the meat mixture, bay leaves, and the remaining ½ c (120 ml) of oil. 

8. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to create a simmer. Partially cover the pot and cook the sauce until it is deep red, between 4 to 5 hours. Stir regularly to prevent scorching. For an extra-thick sauce, cook uncovered.

To Store: Bolognese Sauce keeps in airtight containers in the refrigerator for 3 days or in the freezer for 6 months. When freezing bolognese, divide the sauce into airtight containers and take care to leave an inch or two of space at the top for the sauce to expand as it solidifies. Label the containers with the date, then transfer them to the refrigerator to cool overnight. The next day, transfer the containers to the freezer. Defrost the sauce in the refrigerator the day before you plan to serve it. 

Meal Ideas

• Serve bolognese sauce over polenta or pasta.  

• Mix rigatoni and bolognese sauce for a simple pasta bake to share with baby. 

• Mash rice and bolognese sauce into stuffing for bell pepper, tomato, or zucchini.

• Thicken bolognese sauce with breadcrumbs and roll into meatballs.