Ultimate Beef Ragu

Ultimate Beef Ragu

A rich and hearty traditional Italian meat sauce that's packed with flavor and tastes even better the next day!

Ingredients

  • slices thick cut bacon)

    , diced (vegetarian: use morningstar veggie bacon strips or similar plus 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika

    5
  • unsalted butter)

    (vegan: use vegetable spread, such as earth balance

    2 tbsp
  • olive oil
    2 tbsp
  • yellow onion

    , very finely chopped

    1 large
  • celery ribs

    , very finely chopped

    2
  • carrots

    , very finely chopped

    2
  • garlic

    , minced

    3 cloves
  • ground beef)

    (vegetarians: about 1 cup dried tvp

    1 lb
  • ground italian sausage)

    (vegetarians: morningstar italian sausage crumbles or similar

    1 lb
  • dry red wine
    ½ c
  • canned petite diced tomatoes
    28 oz
  • plain tomato sauce/puree
    28 oz
  • tomato paste
    1 tbsp
  • heavy cream)

    (vegan: vegan whipping cream substitute

    ½ c
  • dried rosemary
    ¾ tsp
  • dried thyme
    ¾ tsp
  • dried basil
    ½ tsp
  • dried ground sage
    ½ tsp
  • ground fennel seed)

    (i blitz it in a spice/coffee grinder

    ½ tsp
  • bay leaf
    1
  • sugar
    1 tsp
  • salt
    1 ½ tsp
  • freshly ground black pepper
    ½ tsp
  • dried ground porcini mushrooms )

    (optional for a fabulous dose of umami; highly recommended

    1 tbsp
  • hot pasta cooked al dente)

    (gf: use gluten free

Directions

  1. 1

    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. (If you like you can drain some of the grease.)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.

Ultimate Beef Ragu

Ultimate Beef Ragu

5.0(64)524 cal

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Ratings & Reviews

0.0/ 5
Exceptional

Based on 64 ratings

daringgourmet.com
5.0(64 reviews)
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About this Recipe

Craving the kind of rich, deeply satisfying comfort food that truly warms the soul? This Ultimate Beef Ragu recipe delivers a traditional Italian meat sauce brimming with flavor, destined to become a beloved staple in your kitchen.

What sets this Beef Ragu apart is its masterful layering of flavor, starting with crisp bacon and a foundational soffritto of finely chopped onion, celery, and carrots. The combination of both ground beef and Italian sausage creates an incredibly rich and complex meat base, beautifully simmered with dry red wine, tomatoes, and a careful blend of aromatic dried herbs, culminating in a sauce that genuinely improves overnight.

Prepare for a luxurious, thick sauce that generously clings to every strand of pasta. Each bite of this Ragu di Carne offers a harmonious balance of savory meatiness, a subtle sweetness from the carrots and tomatoes, and a comforting warmth from the aromatic herbs like rosemary, thyme, basil, and sage. The final touch of heavy cream smooths and enriches the sauce, leaving a velvety finish that makes it feel truly indulgent and satisfying. This is a hearty, robust dish that promises to leave you feeling completely nourished.

This versatile Beef Ragu can easily be adapted. For a vegetarian version, substitute bacon with veggie bacon strips and a touch of smoked paprika, swap ground beef for about 1 cup of dried TVP, and use Morningstar Italian sausage crumbles. Vegans can further modify by using vegetable spread instead of butter and a vegan whipping cream substitute. If you're serving gluten-free diners, simply pair this rich sauce with your favorite gluten-free hot pasta, cooked al dente. For an incredible boost of savory umami, we highly recommend adding the optional dried ground porcini mushrooms.

This Ultimate Beef Ragu is perfectly suited for a comforting Sunday dinner, a special gathering, or any occasion when you crave deeply flavorful, traditional Italian cuisine. Serve it generously over your favorite hot pasta, perhaps with a dusting of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a simple green salad on the side.

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