Sunday, 7 June 2026

Published June 07, 2026 by with 0 comment

Tagliatelle al Ragù

Tagliatelle al Ragù


Before the world shortened it to "Bolognese sauce," before it was served over spaghetti in restaurants across the globe, there was Tagliatelle al Ragù — the true Bolognese. In 1972, the Italian Academy of Cuisine deposited the official recipe with the Bologna Chamber of Commerce, and even the dimensions of the tagliatelle are specified: exactly 8mm wide when cooked, which reportedly represents 1/12,270th of the height of the Torre degli Asinelli, Bologna's famous tower. This dish is not fast food. It is a Sunday ritual, a marriage of wide, egg-rich pasta ribbons with a slow-cooked meat sauce that takes hours to develop its deep, unctuous character.

Ingredients


• For the pasta: 300 g 00 flour, 3 eggs

• For the ragù: 200 g minced beef, 100 g minced pork, 100 g chicken livers (optional), 50 g pancetta, 1 onion (finely diced), 1 carrot (finely diced), 1 celery stalk (finely diced), 200 ml dry white wine, 300 g crushed tomatoes, 100 ml whole milk, olive oil, salt and pepper

• Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, to serve

Preparation


1. Make the pasta: Heap the flour on a board, make a well in the centre, and crack in the eggs. Gradually work the flour into the eggs with a fork, then knead by hand for 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. Wrap in cling film and rest for 30 minutes.

2. Roll the dough out thinly (2mm) and roll it loosely like a scroll. Slice into 8mm-wide ribbons and unfurl them onto a floured surface. Allow to dry slightly.

3. Make the ragù: Gently fry the pancetta in olive oil. Add the vegetables and soften over low heat for 10 minutes. Add the minced meat and brown well.

4. Pour in the wine and let it evaporate. Add the tomatoes, season, and simmer on the lowest heat for 2–3 hours, adding a splash of water if it gets too dry. Stir in the milk in the final 30 minutes.

5. Cook the tagliatelle in generously salted boiling water for 2–3 minutes (or until just al dente). Reserve a cup of pasta water.

6. Toss the pasta with the ragù in the pan, adding a little pasta water to help the sauce coat the ribbons luxuriously. Serve with a cloud of Parmigiano.

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