Recipe 9: Tagliatelle al Ragù (Classic Bolognese
Sauce)
This is the authentic meat sauce from Bologna, traditionally served with fresh tagliatelle, not
spaghetti!
📝 Ingredients (Serves 4):
● 350g (12 oz) tagliatelle (fresh if possible)
● 300g (10 oz) ground beef
● 100g (3.5 oz) ground pork
● 1 small onion, 1 carrot, 1 celery stalk (finely chopped – “soffritto”)
● 2 tbsp olive oil
● 2 tbsp tomato paste
● 1 cup whole milk
● ½ cup dry white wine
● Salt, pepper
● Optional: pinch of nutmeg or bay leaf
🍳 Instructions:
1. Sauté the soffritto:
Heat oil and gently cook onion, carrot, and celery until soft (10 minutes).
2. Brown the meat:
Add ground beef and pork. Cook until browned.
3. Deglaze:
Add white wine and let it reduce.
4. Add tomato & milk:
Stir in tomato paste and milk. Simmer very gently for at least 1–1.5 hours, uncovered,
stirring occasionally.
5. Cook pasta:
Boil tagliatelle until al dente. Drain and mix with ragù.
6. Serve:
Top with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. Enjoy hot.
🍙 Recipe 10: Arancini (Sicilian Rice Balls)
Golden-fried stuffed rice balls, typically filled with meat sauce or mozzarella. A beloved street
food from Sicily!
📝 Ingredients (Makes 8–10 balls):
● 2 cups cooked risotto or short-grain rice (cooled)
● 1 egg
● ½ cup grated Parmesan
● ½ cup breadcrumbs
● Oil for frying
For filling (choose one):
● Classic: small spoonful of ragù + mozzarella cube
● Simple: cube of mozzarella and/or ham
For coating:
● Flour
● Beaten egg
● Breadcrumbs
🍳 Instructions:
1. Mix base:
Combine rice, 1 egg, Parmesan, and a bit of salt.
2. Shape:
Take a handful of rice, flatten, add filling in center, and shape into a tight ball.
3. Coat:
Roll each ball in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs.
4. Fry:
Deep-fry in hot oil (170–180°C / 340–360°F) until golden brown.
5. Serve:
Drain on paper towels and serve hot — crispy outside, melty inside!
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