Traditional Ragu Sauce

[raquel]

Melt butter with olive oil, then add onion. Cook onion until translucent (usually 15 minutes depending on your chopping skills ;)).

Add celery and carrots to the pot with the onions and cook for 2-3 minutes. Turn heat to high.

Add ground beef + salt and pepper and break into pieces. Cook beef ONLY until raw color is just gone and do not drain fat.

Add wine. Stir occasionally. Cook until evaporated.

Turn heat to medium, then add milk and nutmeg. Stir occasionally. Also cook until all liquid is evaporated.

Add tomatoes, then turn heat to very, very low simmer. Stir occasionally, add more salt/pepper to your liking. Cook about 4 hours, serve with your favorite noodles.

The prep time (not counting chopping vegetables) will take about 30 minutes.

[raquel]

Whoa! Looks like the recipe disappeared. Here's the ingredients. Follow exactly as listed otherwise you will miss out of the best flavors.

3 T. olive oil
2 T. chopped onion
3 T. butter
2 T. chopped celery
2 T. chopped carrot
3/4 lb. ground beef
1 C. dry white wine
1/2 C. whole milk
pinch of nutmeg
2 C. crushed tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste

The original cooking instructions remain the same.

Also, I add a little bit more wine (because I love the flavor) and usually use a 28 oz. can of tomatoes + a little extra, but these are just the adjustments I have made to fit my personal dining needs. ;) Enjoy!

[Laura]

I think something is messed up with the recipe feature. I'll remind Marie to fix that when she has time.

[Pinkpig]

Yes, the recipe feature will return as soon as Marie gets a minute.

I just copied your Ragu recipe and will try it. I am always looking for the good spaghetti sauce.

[slvjvm922000]

i only buy ragu because it dont give me as much problems with my ulcer so maybe this will work for me too thanks for the recipe

[arcoiris]

White wine and not red?

[Pinkpig]

White wine and not red?


Yes, I wondered that same thing.....

[raquel]

You can use red wine if you like. I have made this sauce with both. In my personal opinion, the white wine compliments the dairy in the sauce better, giving the sauce a lighter, brighter flavor. I'm not sure how to describe it, but the butter, the whole milk, and the white wine are huge players in this recipe, and they all get along like...uh....well, they just get along. ;) Red wine is fine if that's what you wish to use though.

[Pinkpig]

You can use red wine if you like. I have made this sauce with both. In my personal opinion, the white wine compliments the dairy in the sauce better, giving the sauce a lighter, brighter flavor. I'm not sure how to describe it, but the butter, the whole milk, and the white wine are huge players in this recipe, and they all get along like...uh....well, they just get along. ;) Red wine is fine if that's what you wish to use though.


well, alrighty then. I will go with you and see how I like it. :)

[Pinkpig]

Melt butter with olive oil, then add onion. Cook onion until translucent (usually 15 minutes depending on your chopping skills ;)).

Add celery and carrots to the pot with the onions and cook for 2-3 minutes. Turn heat to high.

Add ground beef + salt and pepper and break into pieces. Cook beef ONLY until raw color is just gone and do not drain fat.

Add wine. Stir occasionally. Cook until evaporated.

Turn heat to medium, then add milk and nutmeg. Stir occasionally. Also cook until all liquid is evaporated.

Add tomatoes, then turn heat to very, very low simmer. Stir occasionally, add more salt/pepper to your liking. Cook about 4 hours, serve with your favorite noodles.

The prep time (not counting chopping vegetables) will take about 30 minutes.

Raquel,

I just make your Ragu Sauce and it is now starting the 3 hour simmer. But I am a taster and it is wonderful. I have eaten the exact thing in Italian restaurants and they call it Sunday Gravy.

Thanks so much for the recipe.

[Laura]

I'm really looking forward to making this soon. Soon I've have garden tomatoes so I will boil and peel those and use instead of canned. Hmm...

[raquel]

Yay Pinkpig!! How did it all turn out? I made it yesterday too, but only let it cook 2 hours because my son was whining so much. Haha. The cooking time does make a difference though!

Laura, homegrown tomatoes sound great!!

[gdalicia]

Raquel, thanks for this recipe! I made it today and my daughter and her friend absolutely loved it. I actually used ground turkey instead of ground beef for a low fat version (but didn't skimp on the whole milk :cheerful:) and it came out great. The only thing I didn't have was nutmeg...I'll have to get some for next time.

[raquel]

:D I'm glad you enjoyed it! Great idea about the turkey, by the way.

[Immi899]

This sounds so good. I really want to try it.

[arcoiris]

I'm simmering...2 more hours to go!

[teajay]

I never knew you had to put the wine in the sauce. I always drank it. :innocent:

[arcoiris]

Oh, that's why I have to by 2 bottles...

[gdalicia]

Made this again, this time with beef and I bought nutmeg. :D Delish!

[Laura]

I made this last night with lots of fresh tomatoes. I couldn't resist adding some garlic... It's really delicious though. I'm enjoying so much with spaghetti here at work today. :)