Beef Pesto Ragu Food

BEEF RAGU WITH LEMON-PEPPER FETTUCCINE

Steps:

• For the ragu: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat. Season the beef well with salt; then sear it on all sides, about 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their juices, wine, vinegar, fennel seeds, garlic, carrots, celery, bay leaves and onion. Season the liquid with 1 tablespoon salt. Bring to a simmer, cover and transfer to the oven. Cook until the meat is almost tender, about 2 hours. Uncover and cook until the meat is tender all the way through and falling off the bone, 30 to 45 minutes more.
• Cool the meat in the braising liquid. Remove and discard the bay leaves. Place the meat on a cutting board and pull it into large bite-size chunks with 2 forks. Remove any fat from the surface of the sauce and discard; return the meat to the sauce. (The dish can be prepared to this point up to 2 days ahead, the cooled, covered and refrigerated.)
• For the pasta: Mix the semolina flour and 1 teaspoon salt in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the eggs, yolks, lemon zest and juice and pepper; mix slowly to make a rough dough. Switch to the dough hook attachment and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes. Form the dough into a ball by hand; cover with plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Divide the dough into 10 pieces and cover with a towel. Roll the dough with a pasta machine into sheets to setting number 6. Dust with semolina and lay on baking sheets; dry for 15 minutes. Then cut into fettuccini with the appropriate attachment. Dust with semolina and set aside on baking sheets; dry for at least 1 hour.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat and salt it generously. Add the fettuccini and cook, stirring frequently, until al dente, about 4 minutes. Drain and toss with the grated pecorino. Transfer to serving plates. Spoon the meat sauce over the pasta and sprinkle with the parsley.
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BEEF & PESTO RAGU

Steps:

• Gently fry onions until softened. Add mince and brown.
• Once mince has browned add red pepper, passata and pesto. Simmer for 25min.
• Cook pasta according to packet directions and stir into sauce.

BEEF RAGU

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Put the mince in a shallow roasting tin, break it up and put in the oven for 5 mins. Remove the mince and give it a stir, then nestle in the star anise and cloves (tie them up in a piece of muslin cloth first, if you prefer) and roast for another 10 mins. Give it another stir, then roast for another 30-40 mins until deep brown and crispy, stirring and scraping it off the bottom of the pan a few times if needed. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat and cook the pancetta for 8-10 mins until crispy and browned on all sides. Stir in the onions, carrots, celery and garlic, and cook for 8-10 mins until the veg has softened. Stir through the mushrooms, oregano and bay leaves, then scatter over the sugar and squeeze in the tomato purée. Stir well, then pour in the wine and vinegar and bring to the boil. Simmer for a few minutes until reduced by about a third.
• Tip in the tomatoes, then a can of water. Add the stock pot or cube, give everything another good stir and bring to a simmer again. Scrape in the roasted mince and spice bag, season, then turn the heat down to low and simmer gently for about 1 hr 30 mins until thick and glossy. Taste for seasoning. The sauce will taste even better if left to cool completely and chilled for a day or two before reheating. Serve with pasta and grated parmesan, if you like. Can be chilled for up to three days or frozen for three months - defrost fully before reheating over low to medium heat until piping hot.

RICH RAGU

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan and add the onion, celery and carrot. Fry over a medium heat for 10 mins, stirring now and then, until softened and starting to colour.
• Stir in the mince and cook, breaking up any clumps of meat with a wooden spoon, until browned.
• Add the tomato purée, garlic and thyme, and cook for 1-2 mins more. Pour in the wine, if using, and increase the heat to boil off most of the alcohol. Reduce the heat, stir in the stock and season. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and leave to cook gently for 1 hr-1 hr 15 mins until the meat is tender and the sauce has thickened.
• Remove the lid and continue cooking for 15 mins. Meanwhile, cook the pasta following pack instructions. Reserve a mugful of the cooking water, then drain the spaghetti and add to the ragu with the Parmesan. Toss well and add a little pasta water to help the sauce coat the spaghetti. Serve with a side salad and extra cheese, if you like.