Description
A hearty and comforting Bolognese sauce made with ground beef and turkey, simmered with vegetables, broth, and aromatic spices, served over soft, pillowy gnocchi. A perfect one-pot meal for a wholesome and satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
1 yellow onion, roughly chopped
1 celery stalk, roughly chopped
1 carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1½ pounds ground beef (80/20 blend)
½ pound ground turkey
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ cup chicken broth
1 cup whole milk
1 (28-ounce) can whole San Marzano tomatoes in juice
2 cups beef or chicken broth
3 bay leaves
1 teaspoon kosher salt
16 ounces gnocchi
Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional, use a halal-certified brand or omit)
Instructions
- In a food processor, pulse the onion, celery, and carrot until finely chopped.
- In a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add the chopped vegetables and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and lightly golden, about 5–7 minutes.
- In the food processor, pulse the tomatoes with their juice until smooth. Set aside.
- Stir the tomato paste into the sautéed vegetables. Cook for about 8–10 minutes, stirring often, until the paste deepens in color and becomes aromatic.
- Add the ground beef and ground turkey to the pot, along with the red pepper flakes. Break up the meat using a wooden spoon and cook until browned and fully cooked through, about 10 minutes.
- Pour in ½ cup of chicken broth and cook, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot, until most of the liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in the milk and cook gently until it has evaporated, around 30 minutes, continuing to stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Add the pureed tomatoes, 2 cups of beef or chicken broth, bay leaves, and kosher salt. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low. Let the sauce simmer uncovered for 2½ to 3 hours, stirring occasionally, until it thickens beautifully. Add a splash of water or broth if it gets too thick. Remove bay leaves before serving.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi and cook according to package instructions, typically until they float to the top, plus an extra minute. Drain well.
- Gently toss the gnocchi into the rich Bolognese sauce and cook together for 1–2 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Plate and top with halal-certified Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Notes
Use halal-certified Parmesan cheese or omit for a fully halal dish.
Add water or broth while simmering if the sauce becomes too thick.
This recipe can be made ahead of time; store the sauce separately from the gnocchi for best results.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 610 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 94 mg
