Ragu Alla Veneziana Venetian Duck Ragu Recipes

VENETIAN DUCK RAGU

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the duck legs and brown on all sides for about 10 mins. Remove to a plate and set aside. Add the onions to the pan and cook for 5 mins until softened. Add the garlic and cook for a further 1 min, then stir in the cinnamon and flour and cook for a further min. Return the duck to the pan, add the wine, tomatoes, stock, herbs, sugar and seasoning. Bring to a simmer, then lower the heat, cover with a lid and cook for 2 hrs, stirring every now and then.
• Carefully lift the duck legs out of the sauce and place on a plate - they will be very tender so try not to lose any of the meat. Pull off and discard the fat, then shred the meat with 2 forks and discard the bones. Add the meat back to the sauce with the milk and simmer, uncovered, for a further 10-15 mins while you cook the pasta.
• Cook the pasta following pack instructions, then drain, reserving a cup of the pasta water, and add the pasta to the ragu. Stir to coat all the pasta in the sauce and cook for 1 min more, adding a splash of cooking liquid if it looks dry. Serve with grated Parmesan, if you like.

ITALIAN BEEF RAGU

Steps:

• Finely chop the carrot, onion and celery and sweat the vegetables gently in a large frying pan with the olive oil. Once the vegetables are soft add the ground beef and pork and cook until browned.
• If there is a lot of excess fat in the pan, drain some out. Add the red wine and reduce by half. Once the wine has reduced by half add the passata and half of the beef stock and a pinch of salt and pepper.
• Stir the sauce and let it simmer on a low heat for 2 and a half hours topping up the rest of the stock as it reduces.
• Tip: Remeber to check on the ragu every now and then to stir it and add extra stock or water if needed.
• To serve with pasta add cooked pasta into the ragu and toss or use as desired.

RAGU ALLA VENEZIANA (VENETIAN DUCK RAGU)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a 6-quart Dutch oven or other heavy-duty pot over medium-high heat.
• Season both sides of the duck legs and thighs with salt and pepper and arrange them in the pot, skin side down.
• Sear until the skin is browned and crisp (7 minutes). Using tongs, turn the legs over and brown the other sides (2-3 minutes).
• Transfer the duck to a deep platter. Pour off all but about 1 tbsp of the rendered fat and discard or save for another use.
• Reduce the heat to medium low. Put the celery, garlic, onion, carrot, sage, and bay leaf in the pot. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are softened (7-8 minutes).
• Pour in the wine and increase the heat to high. Cook at a lively simmer for 2 minutes and then reduce the heat to medium.
• Stir in the tomatoes with their juice and 1/2 cup of the broth. Return the duck to the pot and bring the liquid to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to medium low or low to maintain a gentle simmer. Cover the pot and simmer until the meat is fork-tender (1 1/2-2 hours).
• Remove the duck from the pot and set aside until cool enough to handle.
• Skim the excess fat from the top of the sauce with a large spoon. If the sauce seems thin, continue simmering until flavorful and thickened to a saucy consistency.
• Discard the duck skin and shred the meat. Add the shredded meat to the sauce, along with the other 1/2 cup of broth.
• Let the sauce simmer gently for 15 minutes. Discard the garlic and bay leaf. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the pasta until al dente.
• Reserve about 1 cup of the cooking water and then drain the pasta. Return the pasta to the pot and toss it with some of the ragu, adding a little cooking water if it seems dry.
• Serve the pasta with more ragu spooned over the top, garnished with freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.