Ragu Recipe (Basic Meat Sauce)

The Ragú recipe (basic meat sauce) is very simple and easy to make, but does require some time to let the sauce simmer and develop the flavor to its fullest.  It’s such a hearty sauce, that when added to any pasta, all you need is salad and bread to make a complete, filling meal.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 to 1/3 cup olive oil (enough to coat the bottom of your pot)
• 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 large carrot, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 rib of celery, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 pounds mixture of lean ground beef and ground turkey
• salt and pepper and taste
• 1/3 cup white wine
• 2 cans (28 ounce) crushed tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon sugar

Directions for Ragú (Basic Meat Sauce):

• In a large pot, over medium heat, add olive oil.  Then add garlic, onion, carrots, and celery.  Sauté until onions are translucent and vegetables have softened.
• Add meat and salt and pepper to taste.  Cook meat until brown.  Add white wine and cook until wine has been absorbed into the meat.
• Add tomatoes and sugar.   Mix thoroughly.  Reduce heat to low and simmer about 2 hours.

My husband is from Italy and was born and raised in Rome.  This is the Ragú recipe that he grew up with and continues to make for us.  Our children love the flavor and the aroma of the sauce when simmering in the kitchen permeates through the whole house.  For variations in flavor, my husband often makes the sauce using different types of ground meat such as ground beef, ground turkey, or ground pork.  He also mixes 2 meats together.  Basically, you can be creative with the flavor using different types of meat.

If you try this Ragú recipe, you will find yourself using your Ciabatta or Focaccia bread to scoop up every last bit off your plate.  For other authentic Italian recipes, please see my food blog, True Taste of Italy.

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