Ragu Recipe Variations
Explore 27 different ways to make this recipe by varying the core components.
Rich, deeply flavored meat sauce that transforms simple ingredients through patient cooking. This versatile Italian classic balances savory depth with aromatic vegetables, creating a hearty sauce perfect for pasta in countless variations.
Bolognese Soffritto Variations
The quintessential northern Italian base with finely diced vegetables that melt into the sauce. Delicate aromatics with butter and pancetta create a subtle foundation that allows the meat to shine while adding remarkable depth.
With Whole Beef Chuck
Whole-cut approach where large pieces of meat cook slowly in the sauce until fork-tender. Creates a dual-purpose dish with intensely flavored sauce and meat that can be served separately or shredded back into the ragù.
Ragu: Bolognese Soffritto with Whole Beef Chuck, and Classic Bolognese Liquids
Balanced approach with modest tomato presence. Creates a silky, mellow sauce where meat remains the focus while tomatoes provide subtle acidity.
Ragu: Bolognese Soffritto with Whole Beef Chuck, and Tomato Bath
The most tomato-concentrated approach with a generous proportion of crushed tomatoes and paste. Creates a sauce where tomatoes and meat share equal billing, with the long simmer transforming bright acidity into deep flavor.
Ragu: Bolognese Soffritto with Whole Beef Chuck, and Wine-Enriched Liquids
More tomato-forward approach balanced with red wine and robust stock. The balsamic adds complexity and brightness, creating a sauce with pronounced depth and a perfect balance of acidity.
With Pork Cubes
Rustic, chunky meat approach featuring distinctive texture. The cubed pork shoulder offers heartier bites while creating a sauce with more substantial character and pronounced red wine notes.
Ragu: Bolognese Soffritto with Pork Cubes, and Classic Bolognese Liquids
Balanced approach with modest tomato presence. Creates a silky, mellow sauce where meat remains the focus while tomatoes provide subtle acidity.
Ragu: Bolognese Soffritto with Pork Cubes, and Wine-Enriched Liquids
More tomato-forward approach balanced with red wine and robust stock. The balsamic adds complexity and brightness, creating a sauce with pronounced depth and a perfect balance of acidity.
Ragu: Bolognese Soffritto with Pork Cubes, and Tomato Bath
The most tomato-concentrated approach with a generous proportion of crushed tomatoes and paste. Creates a sauce where tomatoes and meat share equal billing, with the long simmer transforming bright acidity into deep flavor.
With Ground Beef
Fine-textured ground meat mixture that distributes evenly throughout the sauce. The combination of beef and pork creates balanced flavor, while proper browning and wine deglazing build remarkable depth with uniform consistency.
Ragu: Bolognese Soffritto with Ground Beef, and Tomato Bath
The most tomato-concentrated approach with a generous proportion of crushed tomatoes and paste. Creates a sauce where tomatoes and meat share equal billing, with the long simmer transforming bright acidity into deep flavor.
Ragu: Bolognese Soffritto with Ground Beef, and Classic Bolognese Liquids
Balanced approach with modest tomato presence. Creates a silky, mellow sauce where meat remains the focus while tomatoes provide subtle acidity.
Ragu: Bolognese Soffritto with Ground Beef, and Wine-Enriched Liquids
More tomato-forward approach balanced with red wine and robust stock. The balsamic adds complexity and brightness, creating a sauce with pronounced depth and a perfect balance of acidity.
Napoletana Soffritto Variations
Southern Italian foundation featuring more pronounced garlic and caramelized tomato paste. Sliced rather than diced onions add sweetness, while the early addition of tomato flavor creates a more integrated base.
With Whole Beef Chuck
Whole-cut approach where large pieces of meat cook slowly in the sauce until fork-tender. Creates a dual-purpose dish with intensely flavored sauce and meat that can be served separately or shredded back into the ragù.
Ragu: Napoletana Soffritto with Whole Beef Chuck, and Classic Bolognese Liquids
Balanced approach with modest tomato presence. Creates a silky, mellow sauce where meat remains the focus while tomatoes provide subtle acidity.
Ragu: Napoletana Soffritto with Whole Beef Chuck, and Wine-Enriched Liquids
More tomato-forward approach balanced with red wine and robust stock. The balsamic adds complexity and brightness, creating a sauce with pronounced depth and a perfect balance of acidity.
Ragu: Napoletana Soffritto with Whole Beef Chuck, and Tomato Bath
The most tomato-concentrated approach with a generous proportion of crushed tomatoes and paste. Creates a sauce where tomatoes and meat share equal billing, with the long simmer transforming bright acidity into deep flavor.
With Pork Cubes
Rustic, chunky meat approach featuring distinctive texture. The cubed pork shoulder offers heartier bites while creating a sauce with more substantial character and pronounced red wine notes.
Ragu: Napoletana Soffritto with Pork Cubes, and Tomato Bath
The most tomato-concentrated approach with a generous proportion of crushed tomatoes and paste. Creates a sauce where tomatoes and meat share equal billing, with the long simmer transforming bright acidity into deep flavor.
Ragu: Napoletana Soffritto with Pork Cubes, and Wine-Enriched Liquids
More tomato-forward approach balanced with red wine and robust stock. The balsamic adds complexity and brightness, creating a sauce with pronounced depth and a perfect balance of acidity.
Ragu: Napoletana Soffritto with Pork Cubes, and Classic Bolognese Liquids
Balanced approach with modest tomato presence. Creates a silky, mellow sauce where meat remains the focus while tomatoes provide subtle acidity.
With Ground Beef
Fine-textured ground meat mixture that distributes evenly throughout the sauce. The combination of beef and pork creates balanced flavor, while proper browning and wine deglazing build remarkable depth with uniform consistency.
Ragu: Napoletana Soffritto with Ground Beef, and Classic Bolognese Liquids
Balanced approach with modest tomato presence. Creates a silky, mellow sauce where meat remains the focus while tomatoes provide subtle acidity.
Ragu: Napoletana Soffritto with Ground Beef, and Wine-Enriched Liquids
More tomato-forward approach balanced with red wine and robust stock. The balsamic adds complexity and brightness, creating a sauce with pronounced depth and a perfect balance of acidity.
Ragu: Napoletana Soffritto with Ground Beef, and Tomato Bath
The most tomato-concentrated approach with a generous proportion of crushed tomatoes and paste. Creates a sauce where tomatoes and meat share equal billing, with the long simmer transforming bright acidity into deep flavor.
Tuscan Soffritto Variations
A more rustic aromatic base with larger vegetable cuts and robust herb flavors. The olive oil and red pepper flakes create a bolder foundation with noticeable texture and an earthier profile featuring rosemary and sage.
With Pork Cubes
Rustic, chunky meat approach featuring distinctive texture. The cubed pork shoulder offers heartier bites while creating a sauce with more substantial character and pronounced red wine notes.
Ragu: Tuscan Soffritto with Pork Cubes, and Tomato Bath
The most tomato-concentrated approach with a generous proportion of crushed tomatoes and paste. Creates a sauce where tomatoes and meat share equal billing, with the long simmer transforming bright acidity into deep flavor.
Ragu: Tuscan Soffritto with Pork Cubes, and Classic Bolognese Liquids
Balanced approach with modest tomato presence. Creates a silky, mellow sauce where meat remains the focus while tomatoes provide subtle acidity.
Ragu: Tuscan Soffritto with Pork Cubes, and Wine-Enriched Liquids
More tomato-forward approach balanced with red wine and robust stock. The balsamic adds complexity and brightness, creating a sauce with pronounced depth and a perfect balance of acidity.
With Ground Beef
Fine-textured ground meat mixture that distributes evenly throughout the sauce. The combination of beef and pork creates balanced flavor, while proper browning and wine deglazing build remarkable depth with uniform consistency.
Ragu: Tuscan Soffritto with Ground Beef, and Classic Bolognese Liquids
Balanced approach with modest tomato presence. Creates a silky, mellow sauce where meat remains the focus while tomatoes provide subtle acidity.
Ragu: Tuscan Soffritto with Ground Beef, and Tomato Bath
The most tomato-concentrated approach with a generous proportion of crushed tomatoes and paste. Creates a sauce where tomatoes and meat share equal billing, with the long simmer transforming bright acidity into deep flavor.
Ragu: Tuscan Soffritto with Ground Beef, and Wine-Enriched Liquids
More tomato-forward approach balanced with red wine and robust stock. The balsamic adds complexity and brightness, creating a sauce with pronounced depth and a perfect balance of acidity.
With Whole Beef Chuck
Whole-cut approach where large pieces of meat cook slowly in the sauce until fork-tender. Creates a dual-purpose dish with intensely flavored sauce and meat that can be served separately or shredded back into the ragù.
Ragu: Tuscan Soffritto with Whole Beef Chuck, and Classic Bolognese Liquids
Balanced approach with modest tomato presence. Creates a silky, mellow sauce where meat remains the focus while tomatoes provide subtle acidity.
Ragu: Tuscan Soffritto with Whole Beef Chuck, and Tomato Bath
The most tomato-concentrated approach with a generous proportion of crushed tomatoes and paste. Creates a sauce where tomatoes and meat share equal billing, with the long simmer transforming bright acidity into deep flavor.
Ragu: Tuscan Soffritto with Whole Beef Chuck, and Wine-Enriched Liquids
More tomato-forward approach balanced with red wine and robust stock. The balsamic adds complexity and brightness, creating a sauce with pronounced depth and a perfect balance of acidity.