Chicken & Sausage Ragu

By

  • 8
  • 35 mins

Ingredients

  • Variation from Saveur:
  • 1 lb dry pappardelle or fettuccine pasta
  • 1 lb link Italian sausage, cut into 1 inch chunks
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1 inch chunks
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp minced fresh garlic
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp fennel seeds
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine
  • 1 can diced tomatoes in juice (14.5 oz)
  • 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
  • 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 dried bay leaf
  • 2 oz mascarpone or cream cheese
  • Shredded parmesan
  • Chopped fresh parsley
  • Serves 4
  • 1 ⁄4 cup olive oil
  • 1 lb. Italian sausages, casings removed
  • 1 red onion, minced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (28-oz.) can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand
  • 1 1⁄2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
  • 1 ⁄4 cup finely chopped basil leaves
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tsp. fine sea salt
  • 1 1⁄4 cups polenta (not quick-cooking) or yellow cornmeal
  • 1 ⁄2 cup freshly grated parmesan, plus more for garnish

Preparation

Step 1

Cook pappardelle in a pot of boiling salted water according to package directions; drain. Saute sausage, chicken and onions in oil in a large sauté pan over medium high heat until browned, 5-7 minutes. Add garlic, tomato paste, fennel seeds, and pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, 2-3 minutes.

Deglaze pan with wine; stir in tomatoes, broth, vinegar, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil and simmer to reduce, about 5 minutes.

Stir in mascarpone until melted. Spoon ragu over pasta and garnish with parmesan and parsley.

Variation:

1. Heat 2 tbsp. oil in a 4-qt. saucepan over medium-high; add sausage and cook, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until browned, 5 minutes. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add tomatoes and boil; simmer until thick, 20 minutes. Add basil, vinegar, kosher salt, and pepper; keep warm.

2 Meanwhile, bring sea salt and 5 cups water to a boil in a 4-qt. saucepan; slowly add polenta and cook, stirring constantly, and reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until thick and creamy, 8 minutes. Remove from heat and add remaining oil, 1⁄2 cup parmesan, and kosher salt. Divide between bowls and top with ragù; garnish with more parmesan.