Rigatoni With Spicy Calabrese-Style Pork Ragù
This hearty and flavorful ragù recipe is a labor of love, simmering for hours to develop rich and deep flavors that meld perfectly with the pasta. A rustic blend of meats combined with aromatic vegetables and herbs create a comforting sauce that clings deliciously to every strand of pasta. Make a big batch to savor over multiple meals or share with loved ones, as its taste only improves with time. Enjoy the wholesome goodness of this traditional Italian dish!
— Constant Cookbook
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion, quartered
- 1 carrot, peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 celery stalk, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 4 garlic cloves
- 2 fresh oregano leaves
- 1/4 crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley, divided
- 1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
- 1/4 olive oil
- 1 hot or sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 ground pork
- Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
- 1 tomato paste
- 1 mezzi rigatoni or penne rigate
- 3/4 finely grated Parmesan or Grana Padano plus more
Instructions
- Pulse onion, carrot, celery, garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, and 1/4 cup parsley in a food processor until finely chopped; transfer to a small bowl and set aside. Purée tomatoes with juices in processor; set aside.
- Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat; add sausage and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned, about 4 minutes. Add ground pork, season with salt and pepper, and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until no longer pink. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a plate.
- Increase heat to medium-high. Add reserved vegetable mixture to drippings in pot, season with salt, and cook, stirring often, until golden, 8-10 minutes.
- Stir tomato paste and 1 cup water in a small bowl; add to pot. Cook, scraping up any browned bits from bottom of pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until liquid has almost evaporated, 6-8 minutes.
- Add reserved meat and tomato purée and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, adding more water as needed to keep meat nearly submerged, until meat is tender, about 4 hours. Season with salt.
- Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain, reserving 2 cups pasta cooking liquid.
- Add pasta and 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid to sauce; stir to coat. Stir in 3/4 cup Parmesan and remaining 1/4 cup parsley. Increase heat to medium and continue stirring, adding more pasta cooking liquid as needed, until sauce coats pasta. Divide among bowls; top with more Parmesan.
- Do Ahead: Ragù can be made 3 days ahead. Let cool. Cover and chill, or freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat before using.
Yield
6 servings
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