Tagliatelle al Ragu from My Foolish Heart by Bella Michaels

Book:

My Foolish Heart by Bella Michaels (Get it here in Kindle Unlimited)

Tropes:

Rival romance, fake relationship, small town romance

Recipe:

Ingredients:

For the Ragu:

  • 500g ground beef (or a mixture of beef and pork)
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 carrots, finely diced
  • 2 celery stalks, finely diced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 400g canned chopped tomatoes
  • 200ml beef broth
  • 1/2 cup red wine (optional)
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

For the Tagliatelle:

  • 400g tagliatelle pasta
  • Salt for boiling water

For Serving:

  • Grated Parmesan cheese
  • Fresh basil leaves (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the Ragu:
    • Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and aromatic, about 5-7 minutes.
    • Add the ground beef to the saucepan and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
    • Once the beef is browned, pour in the red wine (if using) and let it simmer for a few minutes until slightly reduced.
    • Stir in the canned chopped tomatoes, beef broth, tomato paste, dried oregano, and dried basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    • Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and let it simmer gently for at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken.
  2. Cook the Tagliatelle:
    • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the tagliatelle pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.
    • Once cooked, drain the pasta and reserve a cup of the pasta cooking water.
  3. Combine and Serve:
    • Add the cooked tagliatelle pasta to the saucepan with the ragu. Toss the pasta gently in the sauce until evenly coated. If the sauce seems too thick, you can add a splash of the reserved pasta cooking water to loosen it up.
    • Serve the tagliatelle al ragu hot, garnished with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves if desired. Enjoy!

Tagliatelle al ragu is a comforting and satisfying pasta dish that’s perfect for a cozy dinner at home. Buon appetito!

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