Food & entertaining

PASTA: PAPPARDELLE WITH CHICKEN RAGU

Pasta: Pappardelle with chicken ragu
SERVES 4
PREPARATION 20 MINS
COOKING 1 HOUR
2tbsp olive oil
150g (5oz) pancetta cubetti
1 onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 carrot, chopped
185g (6oz) mushrooms,
thinly sliced
3 Italian-style sausages, casings removed
750g (1½lb) boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1cm (½in) pieces
1x400g (13oz) tin chopped tomatoes
250ml (8fl oz) chicken stock
1 bay leaf
400g (13oz) pappardelle or
wide flat pasta
Freshly grated Parmesan,
to serve
1. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over a moderate heat. Add the pancetta, onion, garlic, carrot, mushrooms and sausage meat and cook, stirring occasionally, for around 8 minutes, breaking up the sausage meat with a fork.
2. Add the chicken meat, the tomatoes, stock and bay leaf to the mixture and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for about 50 minutes. Keep warm.
3. Cook the pasta in a large saucepan of boiling salted water according to the instructions on the packet, or until the pasta is al dente. Drain the pasta well and then return it to the saucepan. Pour over the ragu sauce and stir well. Serve immediately with freshly grated Parmesan.

TIP

Try using chicken sausages in this recipe, rather than Italian, for a delicious variation.