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Ragu with Sausage & Tomatoes

  • Author: Julia Moskin
  • Total Time: 120

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound sweet Italian sausage or bulk sausage
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 onion, minced
  • 1 carrot, minced
  • 1 celery stalk, minced
  • ¼ cup minced flat-leaf parsley, plus extra for garnish
  • 1 28-ounce can whole tomatoes, preferably San Marzano, with its juice
  • 1 large sprig fresh thyme
  • 1 large sprig fresh rosemary (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • Salt
  • Ground black pepper
  • 1 pound tubular dried pasta such as mezzi rigatoni, paccheri or penne
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish, optional

Instructions

  1. With the tip of a small, sharp knife, slit open the sausage casings. Crumble the meat into a wide, heavy skillet or Dutch oven and set over medium-low heat. Sauté, breaking up any large chunks, until all the meat has turned opaque (don’t let it brown), about 5 minutes.
  2. Add onion, carrot, celery and parsley and stir. Drizzle in more oil if the pan seems dry. Cook over very low heat, stirring often, until the vegetables have melted in the fat and are beginning to caramelize, and the meat is toasty brown. This may take as long as 40 minutes, but be patient: It is essential to the final flavors.
  3. Add tomatoes and their juice, breaking up the tomatoes with your hands or with the side of a spoon. Bring to a simmer, then add herb sprigs and let simmer, uncovered, until thickened and pan is almost dry, 20 to 25 minutes.
  4. Mix tomato paste with 1 cup hot water. Add to pan, reduce heat to very low, and continue cooking until the ragù is velvety and dark red, and the top glistens with oil, about 10 minutes more. Remove herb sprigs. Sprinkle black pepper over, stir and taste.
  5. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil pasta until just tender. Scoop out 2 cups cooking water, drain pasta and return to pot over low heat. Quickly add a ladleful of ragù, a splash of cooking water, stir well and let cook 1 minute. Taste for doneness. Repeat, adding more cooking water or ragù, or both, until pasta is cooked through and seasoned to your liking.
  6. Pour hot pasta water into a large serving bowl to heat it. Pour out the water and pour in the pasta. Top with remaining ragù, sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately. Pass grated cheese at the table, if desired.

Notes

  • Not Included in the Box: Olive oil, rosemary (optional), salt, ground black pepper
  • Chefs Tip: Make it your own by adding fresh garlic and dried oregano when you add the vegetables. This ragu is also excellent for a meat lasagna.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4