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Braised Pork Ragu Papardelle

Pappardelle with Braised Pork and Sausage Ragu

This braised pork shoulder and spicy Italian sausage ragu is a one-pot wonder that will have your guests thinking you slaved away in the kitchen all day.
Course Dinner
Cuisine Italian
Prep 15 minutes
Cook 4 hours
Total 4 hours 15 minutes
Yields 4 to 6 servings
Author Emi

Ingredients

Ragu

  • 3 pounds pork shoulder
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 tablespoon oil
  • 1 pound spicy Italian sausage casing removed
  • 1 large sweet onion finely diced
  • 2 medium carrots finely diced
  • 2 celery stalks finely diced
  • 5 large cloves garlic minced
  • 2 sprigs rosemary fresh
  • 2 sprigs thyme fresh
  • 2 sprigs sage fresh
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ½ teaspoon dried chili flakes or 2 whole fresh Thai red chili, stems removed
  • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 cup red wine
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 pound pappardelle pasta fresh

To serve

  • Parmesan grated
  • black pepper freshly ground

Instructions

  1. Season the pork shoulder with salt and pepper. Place a cast iron dutch oven (or heavy bottomed pot) over medium-high heat and add oil to cover the bottom. When hot, add the pork to the pot and brown on all sides, about 5 minutes per side. Remove the pork from the pot and reserve.
  2. Reduce the heat to medium and crumble the sausage into the pot. Sauté for about 6 minutes, breaking up any large chunks, until there is no more pink remaining. Remove the sausage from the pot and set aside.
  3. Reduce heat to medium-low and add onion, carrot, celery, garlic, rosemary, thyme, sage, bay leaves, and chili to the pot. Sauté the vegetables for about 10 minutes. Add tomato paste and stir. Pour in the wine and simmer until reduced by half. Place the pork and sausage back into the pot and pour in the can of tomatoes.
  4. Reduce the heat to low, cover and let simmer for 4 hours, turning every hour or so.
  5. Carefully remove the pork from the pot and place on a cutting board. Using two forks, shred the pork into bite size pieces (discard the fat and bones). Return the shredded pork into the pot and taste for seasoning (add salt and pepper if needed).
  6. Bring a large pot of water to boil and add salt. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and reserve.
  7. Transfer the ragu into a large skillet over medium heat. Add the pasta and toss to coat. (Note: Add a little bit of pasta water if the sauce seems too dry.)
  8. Transfer the pasta to plates, top with additional ragu, grated parmesan, and freshly cracked black pepper.
  9. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

  • You can make the ragu sauce a day in advance, just heat before serving and add some pasta water to loosen up the ragu sauce. This ragu sauce can be kept in the freezer and reheated when needed.