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+ servings
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 30 minutes
Pasta
Italian
Servings: 10

Equipment

  • Dutch oven

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. beef chuck or short ribs, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 2 lbs. pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 4 oz. pancetta (pork belly)
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 carrot, finely chopped
  • 2 celery ribs, finely chopped
  • 1 large shallot, finely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 3 onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 anchovy
  • 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
  • 3 sprigs, rosemary
  • 3 sprigs, thyme
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 1 28 oz. can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed or puréed
  • 1 24 oz. bottle passata
  • 2 cups beef stock
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil (or 1 Tbsp. dried basi)
  • 2 Tbsp. chopped parsely
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. ground black pepper

Instructions 

Brown

  • Cut the beef and pork into 2-inch pieces and remove any excess fat.
  • Heat olive oil in the Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
  • Place the pork pieces in the hot oil and brown until a golden brown crust has formed, about 10 minutes. Flip the pork and brown the other side.
  • Remove the browned pork and set aside.
  • Place the beef pieces in the hot pork fat and brown on both sides.
  • Add the diced pancetta and sauté with the beef until browned.
  • Remove the beef and pancetta from the Dutch oven and set aside with the pork.

Sauté

  • Leaving a few tablespoons, remove any excess pork fat from the Dutch oven.
  • Add carrot, celery, and shallots to the hot oil.
  • Sauté the sofrito until tender.
  • Add the sliced onions to the pot with a pinch of salt to help draw out the water and sauté until the onions are tender.
  • Add the chopped garlic and anchovy with the sprigs of thyme and rosemary and stir.
  • Add tomato paste and sauté until it turns dark.
  • Return the meat to the pot.
  • Pour in the wine, bring to a simmer, and reduce to one-half volume.
  • Add the tomatoes, passata, bay leaves, salt, and pepper.
  • Cover the contents of the pot with beef stock and bring it to a boil.

Stew

  • Reduce the stock to a simmer and cover the pot with the lid.
  • Simmer on low heat for two hours, stirring every 30 minutes. Add beef stock as needed to keep meat covered.
  • Take the lid off the pot, add chopped fresh basil, and simmer for an additional hour and a half, stirring regularly.
  • Remove the bay leaves and herb stalks and let the pot simmer for an additional 30 to 60 minutes or until thickened.

Serve

  • Add 1-2 ladles of ragù to a skillet or saucier and heat.
  • Add a serving of al dente pasta to the pan, along with one to two ladles of pasta water.
  • Toss the pasta with the ragù until sauce is thickened and pasta is evenly coated.
  • Add 1 Tbsp. of butter to the pan and allow it to melt.
  • Add pasta and ragù to a shallow bowl. Top with fresh parsley and, optionally, toasted breadcrumbs or grated romano or parmesan cheese.