Rigatoni with ragù alla vaccinara

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 500g rigatoni
• 1 kg oxtail, cut into links
• 1 onion(s)
• 1 carrot(s)
• 1 stalk(s) Celery
• 1 garlic clove(s)
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 pinch(s) of powdered sugar
• 200 ml dry white wine
• 600 g tomatoes, peeled from the can
• 200 ml beef broth
• 3 tbsp parsley, flat
• olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper, black from the mill
• 100 g Pecorino Romano

Instructions

Working time approx. 15 minutes; Cooking/baking time approx. 4 hours 30 minutes; Total time approx. 4 hours 45 minutes

Rigatoni with oxtail ragout

Trim the oxtail if necessary. Peel the onion and carrot, wash the celery, and finely dice everything. Peel and finely chop the garlic. Remove the stalks and crush the tomatoes. Season the oxtail with salt and pepper. Brown the meat all over in a little olive oil in a pot and set aside. Reduce the heat to low and let the onion, carrot, and celery brown slightly. Add the garlic. Increase the heat and fry the tomato paste and powdered sugar. Deglaze with the wine and cook until completely absorbed. Add the tomatoes and pour in the stock. Season with a little pepper and loosen any browning. Add the meat back in, cover, and simmer for 4 hours over low heat, turning halfway through. Then remove the oxtail, remove the meat from the bone, and shred it. Reduce the sauce until creamy and add the meat back in. Wash the parsley and pat dry. Pluck the leaves and chop them. Cook the rigatoni in plenty of salted water until al dente. Finely grate the pecorino once the pasta is in the water. Thoroughly mix the pasta and parsley with the sauce. Cook for another minute, stirring, and season with salt and more pepper, if desired. Remove the pan from the heat and fold in most of the pecorino. Finally, divide the dish between plates and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Notes: Red wine can be used instead of white wine. For a milder flavor, replace the pecorino with Parmesan. It is also a good idea to prepare the sauce the day before so that some of the fat that has hardened in the meantime can be skimmed off.