Beef And Eggplant Ragu Recipes

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.

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.

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.