Pork Ragu with Bucatini

Happy Father’s Day to all the men out there! You truly deserve a day pf relaxation and great time with your family. Last night I made a tasty steak and potatoes for my hubby; the best daddy for my girls that I could ever ask for! Tonight, I made this delicious Pork Ragu for my Daddy. I made this for Christmas Eve Dinner with Cheesy Polenta and he LOVED it. Instead of Polenta, I added to Bucatini; a thick spaghetti like pasta. It was pretty delicious. I added a nice oven roasted squash (roasted 400 with salt, pepper, and olive oil), fresh from the farmer’s market, and a delicious mixed green side salad.

Ingredients

1 large Pork Butt
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped (feel free to add any more veggies…mushrooms, peppers, etc…)
2 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
3 tablespoons tomato paste
4 tablespoons Worschestire Sauce
1 glass of red wine
1 large can tomato sauce
1 large can crushed tomatoes
1/2 container of beef broth
1 tablespoon sugar
salt and pepper to taste
fresh herbs, chopped- whatever you have- use dried herbs if you don’t have fresh…tablespoons of whatever, don’t be scared to add herbs…sage, oregano, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, parsley, etc.
1 pound of Bucatini- I have also used polenta, egg noodles, couscous, mashed potatoes etc. Use a sturdy pasta/grain/potato

Directions

Salt and pepper each side of your Butt. Make sure you heat your large Dutch oven on high.

Brown your meat on all sides. Give each large side a good 8-10 minutes. Each small side gets a good 4-5 minutes. There probably will be a lot of smoke. This is normal.
While browning all sides, cut up all your veggies.
Once all sides are brown, take the meat out.
Add your veggies and cook down for 6 minutes. Add your garlic. Add your tomato paste. Cook together for about 4 minutes or so. Add the wine and worcestershire; reduce to half, about 8 minutes. Mix well.
Add the tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes.
Add in your beef broth. Mix Well.
Add back in your pork.
Cook for at least 4 hours. Turn every 1/2 hour.
Cook your pasta. Add your sauce to the pasta. AMAZING!