Rigatoni with Meat and Mushroom Sauce

Rigatoni with meat and mushroom sauce is a substantial dish rich in flavors. Here is a classic Italian recipe you can follow:

Ingredients

• 350 g rigatoni
• 300 g ground meat (beef or pork)
• 250 g button mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 400 g tomato passata
• 100 ml red wine
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Grated Parmesan, for serving
• Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)

Preparation

1. In a large skillet, heat the extra virgin olive oil and sauté the chopped onion until translucent. Add the minced garlic and sauté for a minute, being careful not to burn it.
2. Add the ground meat to the skillet and cook until well browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
3. Pour in the red wine and let the alcohol evaporate over high heat.
4. Add the sliced mushrooms and let them cook until soft.
5. Pour in the tomato passata, adjust salt and pepper, and let simmer over medium heat for about 20-30 minutes, until the sauce has thickened.
6. Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rigatoni according to the package instructions for al dente pasta.
7. Drain the rigatoni and add them to the meat and mushroom sauce, mixing well to coat the pasta with the sauce.
8. Serve the rigatoni hot, sprinkled with grated Parmesan and, if desired, some chopped fresh parsley.

Trivia

Rigatoni are a type of pasta typically Roman and pair well with robust sauces like this one. The meat and mushroom sauce can vary in proportions and types of mushrooms used; some prefer to use porcini for a more intense flavor.

Here’s a delicious dish ready that combines Italian culinary tradition with the pleasure of a well-seasoned pasta! I hope you like it and enjoy preparing it!