Prepp

• Finely chop the onion, carrot, and celery
• Finely dice the carrot
• Finely dice the celery
• Mince the garlic.

Cooking

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
•  Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Break it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks.
• Remove from skillet and set aside.

• Add the chopped onion, carrot, and celery to the skillet.
• Sauté until the vegetables are soft, about 5-7 minutes.
• Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute.

• Pour in the red wine (if using) and let it simmer for a few minutes until it reduces slightly.
• Add the ground beef back into the skillet.
• Stir in the chopped tomatoes and tomato paste.
• Add the dried oregano and basil, then season with salt and pepper.
• Lower the heat and let the sauce simmer gently for about 20-25 minutes. Stir occasionally.

• While the sauce is simmering, bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
• Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.
• Reserve about 1/4 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.

• Add the cooked pasta to the sauce, tossing well to combine. If needed, use the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce.
• Plate the pasta and top with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves. 

Enjoy your homemade Pasta Bolognese!