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Braised Beef Ragu with Gemelli | www.oliviascuisine.com | A classic Italian dish that is perfect for the cold weather. Comforting, hearty, delicious and easy to make!

Braised Beef Ragu with Gemelli

4.54 from 179 votes

Ingredients  

  • 4 lbs chuck roast, quartered
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 large sweet onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 2 medium carrots, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 cups red wine, I use Chianti
  • 1 28oz can crushed tomatoes (San Marzano is best!)
  • 2 cups beef stock
  • 2 sprigs fresh Rosemary
  • 1 sprig fresh sage
  • 5 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 lbs Gemelli pasta, cooked according to instructions
  • Chopped parsley to serve
  • Freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano to serve

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  • Season the beef with salt and pepper.
  • Heat the olive oil on a large oven-proof Dutch oven over medium high heat. When the oil is sizzling hot, brown the meat on all sides, about 5 minutes, working in batches if necessary. Remove the beef from the pot and reserve.
  • Reduce heat to medium. Add the onion and garlic to the same pot and sauté until fragrant and beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Add the carrot and the celery and sauté until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the flour and the tomato paste, stir and cook for a minute to get rid of the raw flour taste. Then add the balsamic vinegar and cook, scrapping the bits off the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon, until almost all gone, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the red wine and simmer until reduced by half, about 5 more minutes.
  • Meanwhile, prepare bouquet garni by tying all the fresh herbs together with a kitchen string.
  • When the wine has reduced, add back the browned beef and the bouquet garni. Add the crushed tomatoes and the beef stock. Bring the liquid to a simmer over medium high heat. Then, cover the dutch oven and transfer to the preheated oven. Cook for 3 hours or until the beef is very tender.
  • If the sauce is too liquidy at the end of the 3 hour cooking period, remove the beef and bring the liquid to the stovetop, over medium heat, to simmer until thickened to your likings.
  • Discard the bouquet garni.
  • Shred the meat into smaller pieces and return to the pot with the sauce. Taste for seasoning and adjust salt and pepper if necessary.
  • Cook the pasta, according to package instructions, until al dente.
  • Drain the pasta, reserving a little of the pasta water. Spoon a little of the tomato sauce over the pasta and toss, adding pasta water if necessary.
  • Serve the pasta with the ragu (and some more sauce). Sprinkle with the chopped parsley and serve with freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano.