White Bolognese with Chicken
Meet the new Bolognese on the block that not only boasts big, full bodied flavor but also is quick on cooking time (under an hour!) compared to a traditional Bolognese sauce recipe. White bolognese with chicken manages to be rich, tender and meaty thanks to using ground chicken thighs while skipping tomatoes, heavy cream or whole milk. A pasta meat sauce recipe the whole family will crave on repeat!
Servings 6
Ingredients
- 4 T unsalted butter divided
- 3 oz pancetta I use the diced pancetta from Trader Joe's
- 2 carrots finely diced
- 2 celery stalks finely diced
- 1 yellow onion finely chopped
- 1 lb ground chicken dark meat if possible
- 1 lb ground pork
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 T flour
- 1 cup white wine you want it to evaporate completely
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth more as needed
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 3 leaves fresh sage
- 2 cloves whole garlic peeled
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese + more
Instructions
- Heat a large wide Dutch oven over medium heat. Add 2 T of butter and saute the diced pancetta until browned but not charred. (That will affect the flavor of the sauce.)4 T unsalted butter, 3 oz pancetta
- Use a slotted spoon to remove the pancetta to a paper-towel lined plate to drain. Set aside.
- Add the carrots, celery and onion to the pan. Saute the vegetables until cooked and softened a bit for 5-10 min.2 carrots, 2 celery stalks, 1 yellow onion
- Add the ground chicken and the ground pork to the vegetables. Season with the salt and pepper.1 lb ground chicken, 1 lb ground pork, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Using the edge of a wooden spoon, finely mince the meats. Brown (but don't let it get too dark), over medium high heat until cooked about 8 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes. Add in the cooked pancetta.2 T flour
- Pour in 1 c wine and the nutmeg and cook until the wine evaporates and the meat is almost dry in the pan. This might take 5 minutes or so.1 cup white wine, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- Add the chicken broth and the herbs along with a whole clove of garlic. Reduce the heat to the lowest of simmers. The Bolognese sauce should barely bubble (but it should bubble.)1 ½ cups chicken broth, 3 sprigs fresh thyme, 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, 3 leaves fresh sage, 2 cloves whole garlic
- Simmer the Bolognese for 30 minutes on the lowest temperature.
- Add pasta water and a pat of butter at the end. Toss with pappardelle and fresh grated parmesan and some fresh herbs on top to finish.2 Tablespoons butter, ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese + more
