Directions
Let the mushrooms soak in the just boiled water until tender, about 15-20 minutes, before chopping finely and reserving the water.
Meanwhile, cook the pancetta, ground beef and sausage in a large saucepan (or dutch oven), crumbling the meat as it cooks with a wooden spoon until brown all over before draining the grease and setting the meat aside.
Heat the oil in the same pan on medium-high heat add the onions, carrots and celery and cook until tender, about 7-10 minutes.
Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
Add the meats, reserved mushroom water, wine, diced tomatoes, tomato puree, bay leaves, and oregano and bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, and cook anywhere from 10 minutes to 2-3 hours.
Add the cream and cheese, let the cheese melt into the sauce and season with salt and pepper to taste.
When appropriate, cook the fettuccine as directed on package and toss with the sauce or or serve with the sauce poured on top.
Toss the spaghetti and the sauce or serve the sauce on the spaghetti and garnish with parsley and grated parmigiano reggiano.
Tip: Pulse the onions, carrots, celery and oil to get a really fine dice where they will practically disappear from the sauce!
Tip: This sauce freezes well so make a double batch and save half for later!
Note: The sauce tastes even better the next day!
Option: Use any combination of ground beef/veal, ground pork, Italian sausage and pancetta/bacon totaling about 2 pounds. (If you omit the sausage, add 1/4 teaspoon ground fennel seeds along with the red pepper flakes.)
Option: Omit the carrots and celery.
Option: Add diced mushrooms.
Option: Throw a Parmesan rind into the sauce while it simmers, removing it before serving, to add even more umami flavor!
Option: Use your favorite pasta such as spaghetti, linguine, tagliatelle, penne, etc.
Option: Replace the heavy cream with milk.
Option: Add a pinch of nutmeg.
Option: Add a slash of fish sauce before removing from heat for an umami kick!
Option: Add a slash of lemon juice before removing from heat.