Quick Beef Ragu on Pasta
Photography by Melanie Jenkins.
Adding Worcestershire sauce and balsamic vinegar creates a depth of flavour in the tomato sauce that is usually only achieved with long, slow simmering; and cooking the beef separately makes this a super easy mid-week Italian meal.
Serves: 4
INGREDIENTS
800 grams rump steak
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Ragu
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 carrot, grated
1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary
250 grams button mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons plain flour
1 x 400 gram tin crushed Italian tomatoes
1 cup beef stock
¼ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
To serve
250 grams dried flat pasta
Parmesan for shaving
METHOD
Heat the oil in a large saucepan and add the onion, garlic, carrot and rosemary. Season and cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.
Stir in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar and the sugar until well combined. Sprinkle over the flour and stir constantly until the mixture thickens then simmer for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and stock, season and bring to the boil then reduce the heat to low and cook for 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley.
Beef: Season the rump on both sides. Heat a sauté pan with a little oil over a high heat and cook the steak for 2-3 minutes each side. Cooking time will depend on the thickness but the steak should be very rare through the middle. Rest lightly covered for 5 minutes.
Pasta: Cook the pasta in plenty of boiling salted water according to the directions on the packet. Drain well.
To assemble: Slice the beef thinly against the grain, discarding any fat. Add to the hot sauce with any meat resting juices, then combine with the pasta.
To serve: Divide between warm bowls and top with shaved Parmesan.
Keep up to date with
dish weekly recipes,
food news, and events.
Related Content
latest issue:
Issue #120
As the days become shorter, and the nights cooler, the latest issue is perfectly timed to deliver delicious autumn dishes. From recipes using fresh seasonal produce such as feijoas and apples, to spectacular soothing soups and super-quick after-work meals in our Food Fast section, we’ve got you covered. With Easter on the horizon, we feature recipes that will see you through breakfast, lunch and dinner over a leisurely weekend holiday, and whip up chocolatey baking treats sure to please. We round up delicious dinners for two and showcase a hot new Korean cookbook before heading south to Dunedin to check out all that’s new in food and dining.The latest issue of dish is on sale NOW at all good bookstores and supermarkets – don’t miss it!