This ragout is a gratifying way to end your week without the lengthy cooking time!
I love Sunday suppers with family and friends. Spending a slow, lazy Sunday (or Saturday, or any day, for that matter!) visiting with loved ones brings me joy. The phrase “Sunday Supper” brings with it images of good company, good conversation, and good food. Is there anything better? The term also implies hours of preparation and work in the kitchen.
When I think of a hearty pasta sauce, I envision slow cooking a simmering sauce all day. It doesn’t have to be that way! You can make a praise-worthy, meaty, satisfying sauce without the lengthy time investment. I won’t tell anyone. It will be our little secret!
Table of Contents
What’s a Ragout?
What exactly is a ragout, you might ask? Ragout is a term borrowed from French cuisine and refers to a slow-cooked meat-based sauce. Traditionally, a ragout would require hours of simmering to develop the flavors and tenderize the meat. But with our easy Sunday supper ragout recipe, you can achieve the same mouthwatering results in a fraction of the time.
Is it Healthy?
Sure! This easy Sunday supper ragout is packed with nutritious value and offer so many benefits on top of being a delicious, hearty meal:
- Protein Power: The stewing beef, pork, or lamb in ragout provides essential protein, helping your body build and repair tissues, and keeping you full for longer.
- Vitamin Boost: Carrots and celery contribute vitamins like A and K, promoting good vision, skin health, and blood clotting.
- Heart-Healthy Tomatoes: The diced tomatoes are rich in antioxidants, like lycopene, which may support heart health.
- Bone Building: The dish’s long-simmered broth contains minerals like calcium and magnesium, crucial for maintaining strong bones.
- Low in Processed Ingredients: Making ragout at home allows you to control the ingredients, reducing the intake of processed additives and preservatives often found in ready-made meals.
- Fiber from Veggies: The vegetables add dietary fiber, aiding digestion and promoting a healthy gut.
- Hydration from Broth: The broth keeps you hydrated, and its warmth can be soothing, especially on a cozy Sunday evening.
- Red Wine Benefits: The red wine, in moderation, may have cardiovascular benefits due to its antioxidants.
- Herb and Spice Goodness: Thyme not only adds flavor but may also have antimicrobial properties, contributing to overall wellness.
- Versatile Nutrition: You can pair ragout with various bases like pasta, polenta, or potatoes, providing flexibility in meeting your dietary preferences.
Storage and Leftovers
One of the remarkable attributes of this robust dish is its capacity to exceed the initial serving, providing an even richer flavor.
When it comes to storing ragout, simplicity meets practicality. The flavors deepen as it rests, the melding of herbs, spices, and savory elements becomes more pronounced making it an excellent candidate for refrigeration or freezing.
Once the ragout has cooled to room temperature, it can be stored in airtight containers, with the option of portioning it out for easy access later on. This not only preserves the integrity of the flavors but also ensures that you’ll have a hearty meal ready for those busy weekdays.
You can also try topping it off with some fresh ingredients or experimenting with spices for an even greater leftover experience!
Leftovers from this easy Sunday supper ragout is perfect for those who are into meal-prepping, since it retains all the flavor and quality – and is even better made in batches for a steady stream of homecooked dinners. Simply portion and store the leftover ragout into airtight, freezer-safe containers and voila! This minimizes food wastage and keeps for up to 3 months (if stored correctly).
Reheating
Reheating the Sunday supper ragout is simple! Once you’ve retrieved your container from the freezer, transfer it over to the fridge to let the leftovers thaw. Thawing is important because it helps ensure more even and efficient reheating, preserving the dish’s texture and flavors.
Once thawed, you can use either a microwave or stovetop (it’s entirely up to you). Pro tip: I prefer to reheat on the stovetop or in the oven/toaster oven for better texture and flavor quality. This also helps prevent over-cooking in the microwave that can result in a tough, rubbery, unpleasant texture.
On the stovetop, warm the ragout over low to medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent uneven heating. This method allows for a gradual thawing and reheating, letting the flavors meld seamlessly.
Alternatively, the microwave provides a quick solution. Heat the ragout in microwave-safe containers, using short intervals and stirring in between to avoid hot spots.
As with all methods of reheating, be sure to give it a moment to stand so you don’t dig into a boiling bowl of lava.
Whether enjoyed over pasta, polenta, or potatoes, the reheated Sunday supper ragout promises a comforting and satisfying meal, bringing the essence of a homemade feast back to life.
What Do I Need for the Easy Sunday Supper Ragout?
The ingredients are really simple, and even if you don’t have some small items like Italian turkey sausage tucked away in your fridge, you can always quickly grab those before making this.
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 2.5 pounds of beef chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 pound of Italian turkey sausage, casing removed
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 carrots peeled, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic peeled, minced
- 4 ounces of tomato paste
- 1/2 cup of dry red wine
- 1 1/2 cups of beef broth
- 2 15-ounce cans of crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon of dried Italian seasoning
- 1 pound of pasta, prepared according to package directions
A Range of Yummy Bases to Choose From
Although this recipe calls for pasta, you can totally choose your own base for the Sunday supper beef and turkey sausage ragout!
- Creamy Polenta: The creamy texture of polenta complements the robust flavors of the ragout. It provides a comforting and satisfying base for soaking up the savory sauce.
- Mashed Potatoes or Sweet Potatoes: The velvety smoothness of mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes offers a wonderful contrast to the chunky and savory ragout. It’s a classic combination that never disappoints.
- Crusty Bread or Garlic Bread: A side of crusty bread or fresh garlic bread is perfect for sopping up the flavorful juices of the ragout. The crispy exterior and soft interior of the bread make it an ideal companion.
- Cauliflower Mash: For a lighter alternative to mashed potatoes, consider cauliflower mash. Its subtle flavor won’t overpower the ragout, making it a healthier option.
- Quinoa: Quinoa adds a nutty flavor and a nutritious boost to the meal. Its light and fluffy texture complements the heartiness of the ragout.
- Roasted Vegetables: A base of roasted vegetables adds a nutrient and texture boost to your plate, without all the starchy carbs from pasta or potatoes.
Step-by-Step Sunday Supper Beef and Turkey Sausage Ragout
It’s time to get straight into the ins and outs of the Sunday supper beef and turkey sausage ragout, so grab your instant pot and prepped ingredients and let’s get to work!
Step 1: First off, preheat your instant pot and set it to “sauté”. Then you want to add a bit of olive oil to the inner pot.
Step 2: Now we’re going to throw our cubed chuck roast into the mix, beautifully browning them on each side. Brown them in batches and put them aside for later.
Step 3: Next, we’ll add crumbled turkey sausage, diced onions, and carrots and sauté them until the sausage is slightly browned. Once that’s done, add the cubed chuck roast back in. Add the tomato paste and sauté the ingredients.
Step 4: Pour in some red wine and give it a stir. And for the final ingredients, pour some of that beef broth, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning and your salt and pepper.
Step 5: Now it’s time to seal in all that goodness, change the settings to “pressure cook”, “high” and set the timer for 45 minutes. Use this time to clean up or grab a beverage and relax.
Step 6: Once done, allow a natural release for about 10-15 minutes (your ragout will thank you later).
Step 7: While the instant pot is releasing, grab your pasta and prepare it. Once cooked and drained, set it aside.
Step 8: This part requires a bit of extra care so you don’t get burned, place some paper towels in the vent opening and manually release the pressure from the pot, taking care to avoid the hot steam.
Step 9: Once opened, give your beef chunks a bit of a shred with a fork, then it’s time to stir and get your pasta ready for the ragout! Simply pour over the pasta and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
I can’t find Italian Turkey Sausage. Can I use something else?
No problem. You can use regular ground turkey (or chicken, or pork) and make an adjustment to the seasonings to compensate for the seasonings normally found in Italian sausage.
Add the following: 1 additional teaspoon of Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon fennel, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon of red chili flakes (optional). You can also purchase the smoked turkey sausage, and cut it into small cubes (less than ½” in size). Use them as you would use the Italian turkey sausage in Step 4.
How can I make this dish healthier and cut down on the fat content?
Give your sauce a vitamin boost by pureeing a variety of vegetables and adding them to the tomato paste in Step 6. Reduce the fat content by trimming the excess fat off of the pot roast, or by substituting lean ground beef, turkey, or chicken. Adjust the cooking time as mentioned in the recipe notes.
Easy Sunday Supper Ragout
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2.5 pounds beef chuck roast trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 pound Italian turkey sausage casing removed
- 1 yellow onion small, finely diced
- 2 carrots peeled, finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves peeled, minced
- 4 ounces tomato paste
- 1/2 cup dry red wine
- 1 1/2 cups beef broth
- 30 ounces crushed tomatoes 2 15-ounces cans
- 1 tablespoon dried italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt more as needed, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper more or less to taste
- 1 pound pasta prepared according to package directions
Instructions
- Preheat Instant Pot, set to "saute".
- Add olive oil to the inner pot of Instant Pot.
- Add cubed chuck roast, working in batches. Brown evenly on all sides. Set aside browned beef cubes.
- Crumble Italian sausage, and add to Instant pot, along with diced onion and carrots. Saute until sausage is lightly browned, breaking up larger pieces as needed.
- Return cubed chuck roast to pot.
- Add tomato paste and saute until evenly distributed
- Carefully pour in red wine and stir
- Pour in beef broth, crushed tomatoes, italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Switch setting to "pressure cook" and "high", and set timer to 40 minutes.
- When timer for ragout is completed, allow a natural release for 10-15 minutes.
- While Instant Pot is naturally releasing pressure, prepare the pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Loosely cover vent openings with some paper towels. Manually release remaining pressure, carefully, to avoid potential steam burns, and hot liquid splatter.
- Shred chunks of beef with a fork. Stir sauce and spoon over pasta.
Notes
Nutrition Information
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Sunday suppers are meant to be enjoyed, not spent laboring away in the kitchen. With our easy Sunday supper ragout recipe, you can create a hearty and delicious pasta sauce without the lengthy time investment. So go ahead, embrace the joy of slow, lazy Sundays, and savor the moments shared with loved ones over a steaming bowl of easy Sunday supper ragout.
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