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A plate of wide ribbon pasta topped with rich mushroom ragu and fresh herbs, with a fork twirled in the noodles.
Layla

Mushroom Ragu

A rich, meaty mushroom sauce so satisfying you'll never miss the beef, perfect over creamy polenta or pasta.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 280

Ingredients
  

For the Ragu
  • 1.5 lbs cremini mushrooms quartered or thickly sliced
  • 8 oz shiitake mushrooms stemmed and sliced
  • 3 tbsp olive oil divided
  • 1 large yellow onion finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 0.5 cup dry red wine such as Chianti or Merlot
  • 14.5 oz crushed San Marzano tomatoes 1 can
  • 0.5 cup vegetable broth low-sodium
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter cold, cut into pieces
  • 0.25 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano freshly grated, plus more for serving
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped

Equipment

  • Large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven
  • Wooden Spoon

Method
 

Cook the Mushrooms
  1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add half the mushrooms in a single layer and cook undisturbed for 4-5 minutes until deeply browned on the bottom. Stir and cook 2 minutes more. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with another tablespoon oil and remaining mushrooms. Do not salt yet - salting too early prevents browning.
  2. Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil, then onion with a pinch of salt. Cook 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and just starting to turn golden at the edges. Add garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Push onions to the side, add tomato paste to the cleared spot, and cook 2 minutes until it turns a deep rust color and smells sweet. Stir into onions, then add red wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Simmer 2 minutes until reduced by half.
  4. Return mushrooms and any accumulated juices to the pot. Add crushed tomatoes, broth, and rosemary sprigs. Stir well, bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cover partially and simmer 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and the mushrooms are tender but still have some bite. The sauce should coat a spoon but not be pasty.
  5. Remove rosemary stems. Off heat, swirl in cold butter and grated cheese until melted and glossy. Taste and adjust salt - you'll need more than you think. Stir in parsley. Serve over creamy polenta, pappardelle, or mashed potatoes, with extra cheese at the table.

Notes

For deeper umami, add 1 teaspoon soy sauce or a small handful of dried porcini soaked in warm water (chop the porcini and strain the soaking liquid into the ragu). The ragu improves after a day in the refrigerator and freezes beautifully for up to 3 months. If serving with pasta, reserve 1/2 cup pasta water to loosen the sauce before tossing.