Recipe

Ragu for Cold Weather

Ingredients

2 lbs. fresh sausage, casings removed
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 c. carrot, finely chopped (optional)
1 c. red wine
56 oz. Whole peeled plum tomatoes, or diced tomatoes, with juices
1 bay leaf
sprig fresh rosemary

Kosher salt and fresh black pepper

(See below for additional flavor variation ideas)

Instructions

1. Place a heavy bottom pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Drizzle some olive oil into the pan and allow it to warm up. Then, add the sausage and break it into pieces with a wooden spoon. Cook the meat until it is completely browned, adding pinches of salt and pepper while it is cooking.

2. Once the meat is cooked add the onion and carrot and stir until the onion has become translucent. About 5 minutes. Next, add the garlic and cook for another minute or two.

3. Add the red wine to the mixture and scrape up the brown bits off the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Then, let the mixture simmer until it is reduced by about half.

4. Pour in the tomatoes. Use a wooden spoon to break up the tomatoes into chunks if you are not using diced tomatoes. Be careful! The tomatoes will squirt everywhere if you jab them too hard – be gentle. Add the bay leaf and rosemary and stir into the mixture.

5. Let the sauce simmer on the stove for an 1- 1 ½ hours. Take a look occasionally and give it a stir.

6. After the sauce has thickened to a desirable consistency remove from heat. Take out the bay leaf and stem from the rosemary sprig. Serve hot!

Naptime Notes

Naptime Recipe Serving ideas

There are many possibilities for flavor combinations when making ragu. You could use ground lamb, turkey, beef or almost any kind of sausage. It is also fine to combine meats as well. For herbs you could try basil, thyme, or any kind of bouquet garni. I also love addition other vegetables, carrots, red or green pepper or mushrooms all would taste delicious.

Naptime Stopwatch

The prep time for Ragu is roughly 15 minutes, the rest is just about waiting while it simmers on the stove.

Naptime Reviews

Most everyone loves ragu. We have fun now deciding what we flavors we are going to try each time make it. I encourage everyone to make it their own!

More Naptime Recipes

Printed from: https://thenaptimechef.com/2009/12/ragu-for-cold-weather-webisode-6/