Best Penne With Turkey Ragu Recipes

Penne with Meaty Ragu image

Provided by Nancy Fuller

Time 1h45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

3 cloves garlic, peeled
1 stalk celery, roughly chopped
1 medium carrot, roughly chopped
1 small yellow onion, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 pound ground beef
2 tablespoons tomato paste
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
Pinch red pepper flakes
One 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
4 large sprigs basil, plus more leaves for garnish
1/2 pound penne pasta
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

Put the garlic, celery, carrot, onion and oregano leaves in a food processor and pulse to chop into small pieces.
Heat the olive oil in a medium Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium heat. Add the chopped vegetables and cook, stirring once or twice, until they start to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the pork, beef, tomato paste, and some salt, pepper and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring often, until the meat is browned, about10 minutes.
Add the diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes and basil sprigs. Bring the sauce to a simmer, reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Just before the sauce is done, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat and cook the penne until al dente, according to package directions. Drain and return to the pasta pot. Spoon about 1 cup of sauce into the penne and stir to coat. Serve the penne topped with more sauce, some torn basil and a sprinkle of Parmesan.

Penne in Country Ragù image

Yield Makes 6 first-course servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 ounces Italian sweet sausage, casings removed
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/8 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
2 medium carrots, finely chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
2 cups finely chopped canned whole Italian-style plum tomatoes
1 cup (or more) low-salt chicken broth
1/2 cup Chianti or other dry red wine
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
12 ounces penne pasta
1 cup freshly grated pecorino Romano cheese

Steps:

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage, garlic, and crushed red pepper; sauté until brown, breaking up with fork, about 6 minutes. Add carrots, onion, and celery; sauté until beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Mix in tomatoes. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 1 cup broth and wine; simmer uncovered until liquid is slightly reduced, about 15 minutes. Add basil; cover and simmer until vegetables are very tender, adding more broth by 1/4 cupfuls if liquid evaporates too quickly and stirring occasionally, about 40 minutes. Simmer uncovered until ragù thickens to desired consistency, stirring often, about 10 minutes longer. Season lightly with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and keep refrigerated. Rewarm over medium heat before using.)
Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Return pasta to pot. Mix in ragù, 1/2 cup cheese, and 2 tablespoons oil. Add cooking liquid by 1/4 cupfuls to moisten, if desired. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide pasta among plates. Serve, passing 1/2 cup cheese separately.