Turkey Bolognese

Bolognese, a.k.a. ragú Bolognese, is a slow-simmered sauce that turns patience and ground meat into the richest-tasting, concentrated, and most deeply satisfying of Italian pasta dishes. We give it a lighter twist here by substituting lean ground turkey for the traditional ground meats (often a combination of veal and pork), but the method is the same: start by rendering salt pork, add the hallowed trio of Italian aromatic vegetables (carrot, celery, and onion), and turkey. Except for a bit of tomato paste dissolved in chicken stock, a splash of white wine, and patient additions of milk through the 2-hour cooking time, this recipe essentially produces its own liquid as it cooks. Stirring in a bit of reduced cream at the end reinforces the lovely long-cooked texture.

For more, check out our Ragu alla Bolognese, Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese, and Slow Cooker Beef Goulash.