25 Italian Ragu Recipes – The Pasta Undertaking

Ragu pasta recipes

What’s Italian ragu?

Right here in Italy, ragu (ragù) is the title Italians give to a class of meat sauces served with pasta. Nevertheless, these days you will discover fish ragu recipes, in addition to vegetable or legume ragus. Normally, meat ragu is made with a number of varieties of meat or poultry. These embrace beef, pork, sausages, veal, duck, rabbit, mutton, lamb, sport and even offal, horse and goat.

The meat is often browned with sautéed greens after which stewed or braised in liquid. The greens are most frequently chopped onion, celery and carrots also called ‘soffritto’, the Italian mirepoix. The liquid can embrace peeled or liquidized tomatoes, broth, water, wine, milk and cream, typically a mix of two or extra of those.

A bit ragu historical past.

The phrase ‘ragù’ truly comes from the French ragoût, the title for stews of meat and greens cooked over low warmth for a very long time, relationship again to Medieval France. Ragout could possibly be both a wealthy or a poor dish, relying on the cuts of meat, spices, and garnishes that had been used. However, it didn’t embrace the usage of tomatoes, which weren’t utilized in French (or Italian) delicacies until the late 1700s.

Ragu pasta recipes

The French introduced their ragout to Italy through the Napoleonic period. Nevertheless, Italians had lengthy been cooking meat stews, even way back to the Renaissance. They simply didn’t name them ragu, didn’t generally serve them with pasta or use tomatoes in them! Pasta was most frequently eaten in broth.

The primary recorded Italian ragu with pasta recipe is claimed to be one made by Alberto Alvisi, prepare dinner to the Cardinal of Imola. Often called ragù per i maccheroni, and later pasta del Cardinale, this late 18th century recipe is the predecessor to Bolognese sauce, essentially the most well-known sort of ragu outdoors of Italy. 

Completely different kinds of Italian ragu recipes

Though mentioned to have originated in Northern Italy, at the moment ragu is cooked and served with contemporary or dried pasta all through the Italian peninsula.

Northern Italian ragu is most frequently made with chopped, diced or floor meat or poultry. Southern ragu often accommodates bigger cuts and items of meat or fish, that are then faraway from the sauce after a protracted braise. Southern Italians typically serve these dishes as two programs, the sauce with pasta as a starter (primo) and the meat as a important course (secondo).

Combined Meat Ragu Recipes

Click on the recipe title to study extra and get elements and directions.

Tagliatelle Bolognese

Craving the genuine style of certainly one of Italy’s most well-known ragu recipes? Look no additional! This bolognese recipe is the official model you’ll generally discover served in eating places and houses in Bologna.

It’s rather more flavorful than your typical spag bol, and when you strive it, I’m positive it’ll be your new household favourite.

tagliatelle bolognese with parmigiano reggiano

Oxtail Ragu Recipe from Rome

This Italian braised oxtail recipe is a timeless Roman specialty with a historical past spanning centuries. It includes simmering oxtail till tender in a tomato sauce till the ragu turns into wealthy and flavorful.

Following the Roman custom, you may serve this outstanding dish with pasta, alongside polenta, or just get pleasure from it with crusty bread to mop up the scrumptious sauce!

braised oxtail ragu recipe

Gargati with Spring Ragu (il Consiero)

Often called il consiero, this distinctive combined meat ragu hailing from Vicenza in Veneto adjusts with the altering seasons. The spring version of gargati with ragu incorporates lardo (a sort of cured pork fatback) and three varieties of white meats, along with contemporary peas and asparagus – a superb pasta dish for spring!

Gargati with spring ragu

Spinach Gnocchi with Lamb Ragu

This selfmade spinach gnocchi with lamb ragu leads to an awfully hearty and engaging meal. It’s good for Sundays and holidays, notably throughout Easter when lamb is usually the chosen dish each in Italy and elsewhere.

Spinach Gnocchi with Lamb Ragu

Spaghetti/Maccheroni alla Chitarra with 4 Meat Ragu

This 4 meat ragu recipe is an distinctive alternative for particular events or these days whenever you want to serve your loved ones a comforting and hearty meal. Utilizing a mix of 4 completely different meats and conventional Italian elements, this recipe provides a outstanding depth of taste and richness.

Spaghetti/Maccheroni alla Chitarra with 4 meat ragu

Italian White Ragu Pasta with Wild Mushrooms

Throughout autumn in Italy, probably the most pleasant elements you will discover are wild mushrooms, which Italians adore, particularly when paired with pasta.

This Italian white ragu pasta with wild mushrooms is simply one of many many mouthwatering pasta and wild mushroom recipes accessible in Italian delicacies! In fact, you can too change the wild mushrooms with cultivated ones, should you favor!

Italian white ragu pasta with wild mushrooms

Maccheroncini di Campofilone Pasta with Marchigiano Ragu

This conventional dish from the Le Marche area in Central Italy is ready with hen, beef, and pork. It’s then slow-cooked till the meat tenders and the ragu turns into extremely flavorful. And the pasta is soften in your mouth scrumptious!

Maccheroncini di campofilone pasta

Pasta alla Langarola with Sausage, Hen Liver and Porcini Ragu

Pasta alla Langarola is a hearty pasta dish native to the gorgeous Langhe space within the Piemonte (Piedmont) area of North West Italy. The time period ‘langarola’ is derived from ‘Langa’, the native time period for this space, globally acknowledged for its white truffles, Barolo wines, hazelnuts, and tagliolini recipes.

tagliolini alla langarola

Purple Wine Pasta from Barolo with White Ragu

This mouth-watering dish combines tagliatelle made with Barolo wine and a white ragu that includes veal, pork, and pancetta. Seasoned with herbs and simmered in broth, the ragu fantastically enhances the wine-infused pasta, leading to an exquisitely balanced and flavorful dish.

Red wine pasta with white ragu

Tuscan Pasta Tordellata with Ragu

This pleasant deconstructed variation of a conventional tortelli dish from Tuscany is called Tuscan pasta tordellata, intordellata, or stordellata. This dish is simply as scrumptious because the stuffed pasta dish however with much less effort! I completely adored each facet of this recipe, together with the usage of two sauces.

Tuscan pasta tordellata

Beef Ragu Recipes

Italian Creamy Beef Ragu

Domestically known as pasta alla Montecarlo in Italy, this contemporary Italian beef ragu dish makes use of floor beef ragu with contemporary cream and basil pesto. The result’s a wealthy and flavorful sauce that pairs splendidly with each brief and lengthy pasta sorts. This recipe can also be a superb methodology to make the most of leftover Bolognese or different floor meat ragu.

Italian Creamy Beef Ragu

Ziti Pasta with la Genovese ragu

Ziti pasta with la Genovese ragu, or alla Genovese, is an iconic conventional dish from Naples. It is a historic recipe that dates again to the fifteenth century and is likely one of the most typical dishes that Neapolitan households put together for Sunday lunch and holidays. Nonetheless, it’s comparatively undiscovered outdoors of Campania.

Ziti pasta la genovese

Pork Ragu Recipes

Prosciutto Ragu with Dischi Volanti

This prosciutto ragu with dischi volanti recipe is a unbelievable different to the normal Bolognese. It’s faster and less complicated to make, but very flavorful! I’m assured you’ll add this to your checklist of favourite pasta recipes after making an attempt it!

Prosciutto ragu with pasta

Cinnamon Spiced Pork Ragu with Tagliatelle

This distinctive pasta dish combines the richness of pork ragu with the heat and depth of cinnamon. A standard recipe hailing from Friuli Venezia Giulia in Italy, the dish demonstrates the area’s culinary affect from its Austrian and Slovenian neighbors.

Cinnamon Spiced Pork Ragu with Tagliatelle

Lamb Ragu Recipes

Malloreddus with Lamb Ragu (Sardinian Gnocchi)

This attractive Malloreddus with lamb ragu, also called Sardinian gnocchi, provides a formidable and flavorful mix of tender lamb with conventional Sardinian pasta. Wealthy in style and straightforward to arrange, this pasta dish is a pleasant illustration of the Mediterranean island’s delicacies.

Malloreddus with lamb ragu

Recreation Ragu Recipes

Pappardelle Pasta with Venison Ragu

Originating from North-Japanese Italy, this pappardelle pasta dish contains a wealthy, slow-cooked venison ragu. It’s a great indulgence for particular events or on chilly winter nights, bringing a contact of hearty Italian heat to your eating desk.

Pasta with venison ragu

Tuscan Wild Boar Ragu with Pappardelle Pasta

This wealthy and hearty wild boar ragu recipe comes from Tuscany. Nevertheless, wild boar ragu with pasta is fashionable in quite a lot of different Italian areas too, together with the place I stay in Veneto. Actually, we regularly see wild boar close to our home!

Wild boar ragu

Tagliatelle with Rabbit Ragu

Pasta with rabbit ragu is a conventional dish from the Marche area in Central Italy. This pasta recipe is each simple to arrange and wealthy in taste, that includes tender rabbit cooked right into a flavorful ragu. Excellent for these eager to discover the varied world of Italian ragu recipes.

tagliatelle and rabbit ragu in a bowl

Poultry Ragu Recipes

Bigoli with Duck Ragu from Veneto

Bigoli with duck ragu is a conventional dish in Veneto, the place I stay. For those who’re visiting this area, you’re prone to discover it on many restaurant menus. It’s additionally a preferred alternative for the Venetians throughout holidays or feast days. I’ve loved duck ragu on quite a few events, however this recipe was my first time cooking it!

Bigoli with Duck Ragu from Veneto

Do-it-yourself Lorighittas with Hen Ragu

Out of all of the varieties of pasta I’ve ready at dwelling, these selfmade lorighittas are arguably essentially the most stunning. I served this distinctive braided pasta with hen ragu, which is the normal accompaniment in Sardinia, the one area in Italy the place you’ll discover lorighittas – except, like us, you make them your self!

Homemade Lorighittas with Chicken Ragu

Do-it-yourself Gnocchi with Duck Ragu

This selfmade gnocchi with duck ragu is a conventional recipe from the Marche area in Central Italy. It’s a filling and warming Italian recipe that I imagine is ideal for particular events and holidays all through autumn and winter!

homemade gnocchi with duck ragu

Bigoli Pasta with Farmyard Ragu (di corte)

Expertise the comforting flavors of Northern Italy with this conventional pasta dish that includes a farmyard ragu. The ragu is a mix of slow-cooked duck, guinea fowl, and stewing hen that’s served over pasta. It delivers a wealthy and satisfying poultry ragu.

bigoli pasta with farmyard ragu

Vegetarian Ragu Recipes

Purple Lentil Ragu with Entire-Wheat Pasta

Purple lentil ragu served over whole-wheat pasta is a flavorful and nutritious spin on a conventional Italian dish. By incorporating hearty purple lentils and whole-grain pasta, this recipe provides a more healthy different with out compromising on style.

Appropriate for vegetarians and vegans, this revolutionary adaptation of a basic dish is a scrumptious, satisfying possibility for these searching for healthful, meatless ragu recipe.

Red lentil ragu with whole wheat pasta

Genovese Mushroom Ragu with Trofie

Domestically often known as ‘tocco de funzi’, this pleasant Genovese mushroom ragu is a conventional pasta sauce from Liguria in Northern Italy. This dish is historically made with contemporary foraged porcini (ceps). However, many Ligurians additionally use dried mushrooms when contemporary ones aren’t in season.

Genovese mushroom ragu

Fish and Seafood Ragu Recipes

Paccheri with Contemporary Tuna Ragu

Contemporary tuna has a protracted historical past in Sicily, relationship again to the Phoenician period and probably even earlier. This paccheri with contemporary tuna ragu is a simple but scrumptious instance of the numerous methods Sicilians incorporate tuna into pasta dishes.

Paccheri with fresh tuna ragu

Extra Recipe Collections You Might Like

Pin for Later:

Ragu pasta recipes

If you’re serious about studying find out how to make different selfmade pasta and several types of gnocchi, take a look at my store web page for some nice video on-line programs from my pals in Rome! Nothing beats studying to make pasta from Italians! Plus whilst you’re there why not order a replica of certainly one of my pasta recipe cookbooks or checkout some advisable pasta making instruments?

Reader Interactions