Beef And Eggplant Ragu
I love a good meaty pasta dish, it’s rich and perfect cold weather fare. This recipe couldn’t be easier, and has a surprise ingredient, eggplant which adds an amazing flavor and texture, it’s similar to a bolognese but not your traditional recipe. I have posted recipes from Windy before, well, it was a few years ago and I posted her recipe for turkey meatballs in a cream sauce. She doesn’t have a food blog but I think she should. Her recipes are delicious, nutritious and budget conscience. Whether making this for one or a family (it tastes even better the next day) you should give this recipe a try. You can use whatever type of pasta you like, whether long noodles or a substantial pasta like rigatoni it is wonderful, gnocchi would be great as well.
Beef and eggplant ragu
Serves 4 generously
4 garlic cloves chopped
1 shallot chopped
1/2 small onion (red or yellow)
1 lb 80% Lean ground beef
1 small Eggplant peeled and cubed
1 28 oz can Tomato Puree
1 cup red wine
Salt
Pepper
3 Bay Leaves
1 tsp sugar (optional)
Dice and sautée garlic, shallots and onion for about 3 min. Add ground beef. Cook until ground beef is browned then add eggplant and cook about 4 min longer. Add canned tomato, wine, salt, pepper, sugar and bay leaves. Cover and simmer for about 20-30 min.
Cook pasta of your choice. I used fettuccine. Toss pasta with sauce and sprinkle pecorino Romano on top. Also good with a dollop of ricotta. 😋
apuginthekitchen 
I love ragu and adding eggplants is a great idea. It has been a while since I had pasta but I might make this for dinner tonight, it looks delicious.
Thanks so much Gerlinde, I love eggplant so this recipe really hit the spot.
Have a great weekend!
You too Cheryl, hope you are having a wonderful trip.
Yes, thank you!
This look amazingly warming – just the thing when snow is threatening. I always try to add vegetables to my rage – aubergine is a great idea – I’ll try it next time. Please say hello to Percy from Hugo and Java.
Thank you so much and you say hi and give a big kiss to Hugo and Java from Percy and I.
Any dish with eggplant is my dish, and this looks exceptionally tasty! 🙂
Thanks Ronit, it’s wonderful and very tasty.
Uuummmm! This sounds delicious, Suzanne. And your presentation is superb. Yes, this sounds like just the thing for a cold day. I really can imagine it. Have a wonder-filled weekend. Mega hugs.
It really is such perfect cold weather fare. Thank you so much Teagan and you also have a great weekend.
I love a good ragu, and this one looks great! I love dishes like that this time of year!
Me too Julie, nice and hearty and warm. Thanks so much.
A perfect winter meal.
Thanks so much Michelle.
Wow, the ragu sounds awesome and pictures are making hungry (again) 🙂
Thank you so much, it tastes as good as it looks.
Yummm
Thank you so much Lynn, have a great weekend.
I sense I could smell this through the screen, it looks so delicious and warming!
Thanks so much Kathryn, it’s a delicious, quick and easy.
Reblogged this on ravenhawks' magazine and commented:
Looks awesome Suzanne and the eggplant is an added yum.
I love the addition of eggplant and thank you so much Dyanna!!
I like eggplants added to anything and alone. Thanks for the idea to add it to Ragu too
I really seriously wish that bowl was right in front of me right now! You just gave me an idea. My husband “thinks” he doesn’t like eggplant. But I never thought to cube/dice it into a sauce. That’s brilliant – there’s no way he could pick it out!!!
Yum! Hearty and delicious…perfect for tonight (as it might snow!!) Thanks for sharing Windy’s recipe Suzanne 🙂 🙂
Adding the eggplant would set this off nicely. I’m glad you shared. Have a nice weekend, Suzanne.
delicious 🙂 – forgotten about this. So …. since lunch is already 1/2 done for today, this will be tomorrows. Thanks for reminding me again – good combination 🙂
Looks perfect Suzanne! 🙂
HI Suzanne– this is really cold weather comforts food!! and we love eggplant– I’m imagining it would give a velvety texture and an added richness. I really want to try this!! I’ll let you know how it comes out… thanks friend!! hugs from here!
Thank you so much Rhonda. Me too, love eggplant in almost any dish there is something so rich about it. Thank you so much and have a wonderful weekend.
You too Suzanne– haven’t heard much of what you are up to! Seems like with the holidays over and the cold weather in, things would be quiet for you– fewer guests and a little less business this time of year??? Hope you are healthy and happy and staying warm!! hugs hugs…
Hi Rhonda, have been really busy and finding it hard to create anything new in the kitchen. Hoping to get back on track soon. Doing well, hope you are also. Thank you so much.
Windy sounds like an awesome cook. Thank you for sharing, it looks really hearty and delicious!
This looks so good!!