SUNDAY RAGù

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Sunday Ragù image

Provided by Gina Marie Miraglia Eriquez

Categories     Sauce     Soup/Stew     Beef     Tomato     Sausage     Simmer     Gourmet

Yield Makes 12

Number Of Ingredients 21

For tomato sauce:
5 (28-ounce) cans whole tomatoes in juice (preferably Italian)
1/2 cup olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 Turkish bay leaf or 1/2 California
For beef braciole:
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 cup grated Pecorino Romano (2 ounces)
3 ounces thinly sliced pancetta, finely chopped
1 1/2 pounds beef top round, cut across the grain into 1/4-inch slices
For meatballs and other meats:
Reserved meat mixture and frying oil from polpette
1/2 cup olive oil for frying, divided
1 pound sweet Italian sausage links
1 pound hot Italian sausage links
1 1/2 pound boneless pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 pounds country-style pork ribs
Equipment: kitchen string
Accompaniment: fresh egg fettuccine

Steps:

  • Make tomato sauce:
  • Pulse tomatoes with juice (1 can at a time) in a blender until almost smooth.
  • Heat oil in a wide 10-to 12-quarts heavy pot over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then sauté onion until golden, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute.
  • Add tomato purée, bay leaf, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 40 to 45 minutes. Discard bay leaf.
  • Make braciole while sauce simmers:
  • Stir together garlic, parsley, cheese, and pancetta.
  • Pound top round to 1/8 inch thick between 2 sheets of plastic wrap with a rolling pin or meat pounder. Spoon parsley mixture evenly over beef cutlets (about 3 tablespoons each). Starting with a short side, roll up cutlets and tie at each end with string to make braciole.
  • Make meatballs:
  • Form reserved meatball mixture into balls (about 16), using a 1/4-cup measure.
  • Cook meats:
  • Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat until it shimmers. Season braciole with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper (total) and brown well in 2 batches, turning, about 6 minutes per batch. Transfer to a large shallow pan.
  • Add 2 tablespoons oil to skillet and brown sausage in 2 batches, turning, about 6 minutes per batch. Transfer to pan with braciole.
  • Pat pork shoulder dry and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add 2 tablespoons oil to skillet and brown pork shoulder all over, about 5 minutes. Transfer to pan.
  • Pat pork ribs dry and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to skillet and brown ribs well in 2 batches, turning, about 6 minutes per batch. Transfer to pan.
  • Heat reserved oil from polpette in skillet over medium heat until it shimmers. Fry meatballs in 2 batches (do not crowd), turning occasionally, until well browned, about 6 minutes per batch. Transfer to paper towels using a slotted spoon. (Discard oil.)
  • Finish ragù:
  • Return sauce to a simmer and carefully add all meats and juices. Simmer, partially covered, gently stirring occasionally (do not break up meatballs), until all meats are tender, about 2 1/4 hours.
  • Transfer meats with tongs to a large platter. Serve with fettuccine and remaining sauce.

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