Description
Rich and hearty Italian pasta dish made with wide paccheri noodles coated in a slow-simmered beef and tomato ragù, finished with fresh herbs and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 12 oz (340g) paccheri pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 carrot, finely chopped
- 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 cup dry red wine
- 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup whole milk or cream
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
- Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Instructions
- In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Cook for 5–7 minutes until soft.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1–2 minutes. Pour in red wine and let it simmer until mostly reduced.
- Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir and bring to a simmer.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the milk or cream and simmer for another 5 minutes.
- While the sauce is finishing, cook paccheri in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain.
- Toss cooked pasta with ragù, adding reserved water a little at a time to loosen the sauce as needed.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Notes
- Use high-quality ground beef for best flavor and texture.
- Simmering the sauce uncovered helps concentrate flavors.
- Paccheri can be substituted with rigatoni or other large tubular pasta.
- Milk or cream adds richness and balances acidity in the tomato sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
