Best Beef And Eggplant Ragu Recipes

OLD FASHIONED BEEF STEW WITH EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven top 325 F.
• Cut the eggplant cubes. Oil a baking sheet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
• Add the eggplant pieces to the baking sheet. Brush a little olive oil on top of each eggplant cube. Season with sea salt, freshly ground pepper and a pinch of oregano. Bake cubes for 30 to 45 min or until eggplant flesh is soft and a light golden color. When done remove baking sheet with eggplants from oven and set aside.
• Dry the beef pieces well using a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper. Lightly dust 1 - 2 tbsp all purpose flour all over beef.
• In a large pot heat 2 tbsp olive oil. Brown the beef, a few pieces at a time all over, about 2-3 minutes. Remove beef pieces on a plate and set aside.
• Add the onion. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté for 1-2 min. Add the garlic, cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg and oregano. Stir and sauté for 2 minutes
• Add the tomatoes. Gently crush them to eliminate any big chunks. Mix well. Add the beef, 1/2 cup of water, some fresh thyme and oregano sprigs. Stir gently, cover and simmer in low heat for 1 hour.
• Add eggplant pieces to the stew. Stir gently, cover and simmer for another 30 to 45 min or until beef is soft and almost falling apart with a fork. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. and serve.

BEEF AND BEET RAGU WITH PAPPARDELLE

Steps:

• Bring the meat to room temperature, then pat dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat the EVOO in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the meat in batches until well caramelized and brown, then remove to a plate and reserve.
• To the pan, add the garlic, bay leaf, carrots and onions. Reduce the heat and cook, partially covered, 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, 1 minute, then add the stock and set the beef back into the juices. Cover and reduce the heat to low, cooking until very tender, stirring occasionally and adding a little water if pan gets a little dry, 2 to 2 hours 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Trim up the beets so they sit upright, but keep the skins on, and spray with olive oil. Season the beets with salt and pepper, wrap in aluminum foil and roast until tender 40 to 45 minutes. Cool the beets and peel with paper towels, then dice.
• Break up the meat with forks into pieces, then add the beets to the sauce and combine. Cool and store for a make-ahead meal. Reheat over medium heat and add a little stock if necessary to loosen.
• Cook the pappardelle in salted boiling water to al dente, drain and reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Toss the pasta with the starchy cooking water and half of the ragu. Top shallow bowls of pasta with more ragu. Pass the cheese at the table and garnish with parsley.

BEEF AND EGGPLANT RAGU

Steps:

• Cook beef, garlic and fennel seeds in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, until the beef is browned, about 3 minutes.
• Add eggplant and oil; cook, stirring occasionally, until the eggplant browns, about 5 minutes.
• Add tomato sauce and wine; cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in oregano, salt and pepper.
• Serve topped with the sauce and sprinkled with pine nuts and feta, if using.

RIGATONI WITH BEEF AND EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Place eggplant in colander and weight down with plate to drain juices.
• Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; add onions and mushrooms, cook, stirring frequently until softened.
• Add ground beef, breaking up with spoon; cook until browned.
• Drain well, then transfer to bowl.
• Add eggplant and broth to same skillet; cover and cook 5 minutes.
• Uncover; add garlic, salt, thyme and red pepper; cook 2 minutes.
• Stir in vinegar.
• Reduce heat to medium; add tomatoes and beef mixture, breaking up tomatoes with spoon.
• Cover, simmer 5 minutes to blend flavors.
• Toss with rigatoni and parsley.