Mushroom Ragu

Martha sheds light on the world of mushrooms and makes four fantastic recipes: savory buckwheat crepes with mushroom filling, a vegetarian mushroom ragù, French mushroom soup, and a modern-day mushroom risotto. You’ll be inspired to prepare her tasty recipes—for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Serves: 6 – 8

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces dried porcini mushrooms
  • 1 large red onion, coarsely chopped
  • 4 medium carrots, coarsely chopped
  • 4 medium ribs celery, coarsely chopped
  • 1 pound mixed mushrooms, quartered, such as shiitake and crimini
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 sprig fresh basil, coarsely chopped
  • 1 sprig fresh marjoram, coarsely chopped
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary, coarsely chopped
  • 1 sprig fresh thyme, coarsely chopped
  • 4 cups crushed tomatoes
  • 1 pound rigatoni pasta
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus more for serving
  • Chopped flat-leaf parsley, for serving

Method

  1. Place porcini mushrooms in a small shallow bowl with just enough hot water to cover. Let stand 30 minutes.
  2. Place onion in the bowl of a food processor; process until finely chopped. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside. Place carrots and celery in the bowl of a food processor; process until finely chopped. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside. Place mushrooms in the bowl of a food processor; process until finely chopped; set aside.
  3. Heat butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; cook, stirring, until onion begins to brown, about 7 minutes. Add carrots and celery; stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is browned, 20 to 25 minutes.
  4. Drain porcini mushrooms and finely chop. Add to the pot along with the chopped mushrooms. Cook stirring occasionally, until liquid is released and mushrooms are browned, about 10 minutes.
  5. Add tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is slightly reduced, 6 minutes. Place basil, marjoram, rosemary and thyme on a piece of cheesecloth tying with kitchen twine to enclose; add to the pot. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 1 hour.
  6. Add 1 cup water and continue cooking for an additional 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
  7. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions, until al dente. Drain reserving some of the cooking water, if desired, and transfer to a large bowl. Add mushroom ragu and toss to combine. Stir in cheese and enough of the pasta water to form a sauce. Garnish with additional cheese and parsley.