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Ultimate Beef Ragu

Ultimate Beef Ragu

The Ultimate Beef Ragu is a rich and hearty sauce, perfect for pasta, made with beef, sausage, and a blend of aromatic ingredients.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Course main dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 servings
Calories 524 kcal

Equipment

  • Heavy pot or Dutch oven

Ingredients
  

Meat Ingredients

  • 5 slices thick cut bacon diced
  • 1 pound ground beef vegetarians: about 1 cup dried TVP
  • 1 pound ground Italian sausage vegetarians: Morningstar Italian Sausage crumbles or similar

Vegetable Ingredients

  • 1 large yellow onion very finely chopped
  • 2 ribs celery very finely chopped
  • 2 carrots carrots very finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced

Liquids

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter vegan: use vegetable spread, such as Earth Balance
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ cup dry red wine
  • 28 ounces canned petite diced tomatoes
  • 28 ounces plain tomato sauce/puree
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • ½ cup heavy cream vegan: vegan whipping cream substitute

Seasonings

  • ¾ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • ¾ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon dried ground sage
  • ½ teaspoon ground fennel seed I blitz it in a spice/coffee grinder
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 leaf bay leaf
  • 1 tablespoon dried ground porcini mushrooms optional for a fabulous dose of umami; highly recommended

Pasta

  • hot pasta cooked al dente (GF: use gluten free)

Instructions
 

Cooking Instructions

  • Heat a heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium-high and fry the bacon until done.
  • Add the butter and olive oil. Add the onion, garlic, celery, carrot and cook until tender but not browned, about 10 minutes.
  • Add the ground beef and sausage and cook, breaking up the lumps, until no longer pink, about 10 minutes.
  • Add the wine, bring to a boil, and simmer for 2 minutes.
  • Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, heavy cream and remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for 60-90 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Remove the lid and let simmer for an additional 30 minutes.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste. Discard bay leaf.
  • Serve with hot al dente pasta of your choice along with a sprinkle of Parmesan-Reggiano cheese.
  • Note: This sauce is even better the next day after the flavors have had more time to meld! It also freezes well.

Notes

This sauce is even better the next day after the flavors have had more time to meld! It also freezes well.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 524kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 20gFat: 42gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 105mgSodium: 1216mgPotassium: 955mgFiber: 4gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 2239IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 85mgIron: 4mg
Keyword beef ragu, Comfort Food, hearty sauce, Italian cuisine, pasta sauce, Ultimate Beef Ragu
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