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    Home » Recipes » Savory Meals

    Published: Feb 5, 2023 by Pate Giltner 1 Comment

    Spaghetti Bolognese made with Bourbon

    6 shares
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    This is the richest and meatiest bolognese sauce because it's cooked down with bourbon and cream! Bourbon is a prime cooking ingredient here in Kentucky, and it compliments and sweetens the beef to make the perfect spaghetti bolognese made with bourbon sauce. 

    A brown bowl full of bolognese pasta, sprinkled with parma cheese, thyme, and with two glasses of bourbon above and below.

    This is one of my favorite dishes to make and is one of my savory favorites, and its perfect to sereve with some fresh herb focaccia bread!

    Key Ingredients:

    Ground Beef: this recipe was made to be simple, so we use just one type of meat, and it becomes so flavorful from cooking in the bourbon, cream, and tomato paste. 

    Bourbon: Bourbon is a great paring to meat, and this recipe switches out the traditional red wine for bourbon. I typically cook with Woodford Reserve because it has the most balanced flavors and doesn't veer too sweet or spicy.

    Tomato Paste: tomato paste binds all the ingredients together and adds depth to the meat!

    Cream: Heavy cream adds even more richness to the sauce! 

    The ingredients for the bourbon bolognese on a brown table.

    How to make this recipe:

    The beef browning in a dutch oven.

    Start by browning the ground beef.

    The pancetta cooking in a dutch oven.

    Then cook the pancetta until crispy.

    The onion, celery, carrots gooding in the same dutch oven,

    Add in the onion, celery, onion, carrot, and garlic.

    The beef has been added back to the pot and is cooking with the bourbon.

    Add beef back to pot and bourbon, and cook until all the bourbon is absorbed.

    Tomato paste and spices are sitting on top of the cooking beef.

    Add tomato paste, bay leaf, and nutmeg and cook.

    The cream and the stock unmixed in the pot.

    Pour stock and cream into pot; add a pinch of salt.

    The reduced and finished sauce.

    Reduce heat to the lowest setting and cook, uncovered, until meat is very, very tender, 2–2½ hours.

    Tip for success!

    • Brown the beef in small chucks so that it gets a slight sear.
    • Break the beef into the smallest pieces possible while cooking, this will make a smoother sauce.
    • Let the tomato paste cook until it reaches a very dark color, this will add a richer flavor and texture.
    • Cook the sauce until almost no liquid remains.
    Print
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    A brown bowl full of bolognese pasta, sprinkled with parma cheese, thyme, and with two glasses of bourbon above and below.

    Spaghetti Bolognese made with Bourbon

    ★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews
    • Author: Pate Giltner
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 3 hours
    • Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
    • Yield: 4-5 servings 1x
    • Category: Sauce
    • Method: Stove top
    • Cuisine: Italian
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    Description

    This is the richest and meatiest bolognese sauce because it's cooked down with bourbon and cream! Bourbon is a prime cooking ingredient here in Kentucky, and it compliments and sweetens the beef to make the perfect spaghetti bolognese made with bourbon sauce. 


    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 1 celery stalk chopped
    • 2 medium carrots chopped
    • 1 onion chopped
    • 4-5 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 4 ounces of pancetta or bacon
    • ½ cup bourbon
    • ½ cup cream
    • 2 cups beef broth
    • 6 oz Tomato paste
    • 1 Bay leaf
    • 2 Thyme sprigs
    • Pinch nutmeg
    • Salt pepper

    Instructions

    • Cook beef in chunks until browned. 
    • Remove from pot and cook the pancetta until crispy. 
    • Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic and cook until translucent. 
    • Add beef back to the pot, and bourbon, and cook until all the bourbon is absorbed. 
    • Smash the beef into small pieces while cooking in the bourbon.
    • Add tomato paste, bay leaf, and nutmeg and cook, stirring occasionally and still pressing down on meat, until tomato paste is slightly darkened about 5 minutes.
    • Pour stock and cream into the pot; add a pinch of salt. Reduce heat to the lowest setting and cook, uncovered 2–2½ hours.
    • Cook pasta 1-2 minutes less than the instructions. 
    • Add ½-1 cup pasta water to the sauce and then add the pasta and cook for 1-2 minutes more.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag me @thegandmkitchen — I can't wait to see what you've made!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Elizabeth says

      February 09, 2023 at 11:25 pm

      .

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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    Here at The G&M Kitchen, you will find southern-inspired baking recipes with a modern twist that are easy, elegant, and fun! Everything is made from scratch, designed for the home kitchen, and is simply delicious!

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    Pate Giltner holding a cupcake
    Pate Giltner holding a cupcake

    About Pate

    Hi, I'm Pate, and welcome to The G&M Kitchen!

    The G&M Kitchen is a recipe blog that specializes in southern baked goods. Here you will find classics like buttermilk and honey biscuits and beautiful show stoppers like strawberry basil cupcakes. While all recipes are inspired by traditional southern classics, they all have a twist or adjustment that elevates them and brings them into the modern age.

    Learn more about me →

    As featured in: thefeedfeed, Sur La Table, Bake From Scratch, Foodtography School, The Bourbon Review, Bringing it Home

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