Quick Pork Ragu With Ravioli Recipes

PORK RAGU

Steps:

• Heat a Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the extra-virgin olive oil, 3 turns of the pan, then add the carrots, celery, onions and garlic. Stir in the bay leaf and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook the vegetables until soft, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the tomato paste and stir for 1 minute, then add the wine and cook for another minute. Stir in the stock and bring sauce to a simmer. Add the pork and season with a pinch of ground cloves. When the sauce returns to a simmer add the milk and reduce the heat to low. Let the sauce mellow while you bring the water to boil for the pasta or polenta. Sauce may be made ahead and reheated over medium-low heat. Add a splash of stock or water to thin the sauce, if necessary. Serve the sauce tossed with pasta ribbons or atop creamy bowls of polenta and garnish with lots of cheese and parsley.

SLOW-COOKER PORK RAGU

Steps:

• Spray 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
• In 5-quart Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium-high heat 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp. With slotted spoon, remove bacon to small bowl.
• Season pork with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Add half of the pork to bacon drippings in Dutch oven, and cook 4 to 6 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned. With slotted spoon, remove pork from Dutch oven to slow cooker. Repeat with remaining pork.
• Add onions, carrots, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to Dutch oven; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened. Stir in garlic and oregano; cook 30 seconds. Add broth; heat to simmering, stirring to remove brown bits on bottom. Transfer mixture to slow cooker with pork. Stir in tomatoes and bacon.
• Cover; cook on Low heat setting 8 to 10 hours or until pork is tender and easily falls apart. Before serving, shred pork with two forks. Serve over cooked pasta. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh herbs.

RIGATONI WITH PORK RAGù

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a flat work surface with a sheet of parchment paper. Place ribs on the parchment in an even layer. Season generously with salt and freshly ground pepper on both sides. Heat a large roasting pan on top of the stove over medium heat. Add the olive oil and let heat for 1 minute. Put the ribs in the pan and brown on all sides, 8-10 minutes. Add the garlic and let brown, 1-2 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes. Using a wooden spoon, scrape up all the browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Add just enough water to cover the ribs. Transfer to the oven and braise, uncovered, until the meat is tender, 2-2½ hours, checking after 1¼ hours.
• Check the ribs after 1¼ hours. The surface of the roasting pan should be caramelized around the edges, with bubbles of sauce around the ribs. Return to the oven until the ribs are fork tender, another 45 minutes.
• After a total of about 2 hours of cooking, check for doneness. The meat should be tender and pull easily from the bone. Set ribs aside in the roasting pan to cool slightly.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook for 3 minutes less than what's advised on the box. Meanwhile, pull the pork meat from the bones; discard the bones. Toss the meat with the sauce in the roasting pan to make a ragù. Season with salt and pepper. Break up the dried chili and stir into the sauce.
• Assembly: Reserve ¾ cup pasta water. Drain the rigatoni, then return to the pot. Pour reserved pasta water and sauce into the pot. Cook over low heat, gently tossing the rigatoni with the sauce for 1-2 minutes to allow it to "marry"-or absorb-the sauce. The pasta should be al dente. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary. Transfer to a platter or bowl and serve with freshly grated Pecorino Romano and more dried chilies.

RAVIOLI BEEF RAGU

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook beef and onion until no longer pink, drain.
• Add tomatoes, broth, wine, tomato paste rosemary, sugar, garlic, and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes, uncovered.
• Cook ravioli according to directions and drain. Top with meat sauce and sprinkle with cheese.