ragu
Slow-simmered tomato sauce
Ragu is a hearty Italian meat sauce, typically slow-cooked with tomatoes, wine, and aromatics until rich and thick.
The most famous version is Bolognese, served over pasta like tagliatelle or pappardelle.
Unlike marinara, ragu features meat as the central element rather than an addition: Sunday ragu simmering all afternoon.
Also spelled ragù.
Cook just under boiling
- braiseSear, then slow-simmer
- stewSlow-simmered meat dish
- soffrittoItalian cooking base
- mirepoixFrench aromatic vegetable base
aromatics · sear · deglaze · reduce · fond · slow-cooked · sautéed · caramelize
Flat ribbon pasta
- pappardelleWide flat Italian noodles
- fettuccineFlat ribbon-shaped noodles
- rigatoniLarge ridged pasta tubes
- lasagnaBaked layered pasta dish
gnocchi · penne · bucatini · orecchiette · polenta · tossed · coated · clings
Of or from Bologna
- nonnaItalian for grandmother
- trattoriaCasual Italian restaurant
- Emilia-RomagnaRegion in northern Italy
- regionalRelating to an area
traditional · authentic · famiglia · rustic · homestyle · comfort · generational · recipe
Bolognese
Of or from Bologna
mince · sausage · pancetta · guanciale · lamb · oxtail · game · duck · rabbit · prosciutto
simmer
Cook just under boiling
mirepoix · aromatics · sear · deglaze · reduce · fond · slow-cooked · sautéed · caramelize · infuse
tagliatelle
Flat ribbon pasta
- pappardelleWide flat Italian noodles
- fettuccineFlat ribbon-shaped noodles
- rigatoniLarge ridged pasta tubes
lasagna · gnocchi · penne · bucatini · orecchiette · polenta · tossed · coated · clings
Bolognese
Of or from Bologna
- nonnaItalian for grandmother
- trattoriaCasual Italian restaurant
- Emilia-RomagnaRegion in northern Italy
regional · traditional · authentic · famiglia · rustic · homestyle · comfort · generational · recipe
pomodoro
Italian word for tomato
paste · plum · vine-ripened · acidic · sweet · reduced · canned · fresh · base · red
- saucesgravy, ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, BBQ sauce
- Italian foodpasta, spaghetti, risotto, gnocchi, ravioli
- braised meatsbrisket, pot roast, chuck roast, lamb shank, lamb shanks
- mixed dishesstew, casserole, stir fry, fried rice, jambalaya
- pasta saucesmarinara, pesto, alfredo, bolognese, arrabbiata
- slow cookingslow cooker, braise, braising, simmer, simmering
ragualfredo
Buttery parmesan pasta sauce
béchamel · cream sauce · aglio e olio · white sauce · carbonara
- beef raguStewed meat pasta sauce
- lamb raguStewed young sheep sauce
- beef ragoutSlow-simmered meat dish