Rigatoni with Pork Sauce

17/11/2023

The recipe for rigatoni with pork sauce is a classic Italian dish that combines the heartiness of pork with the simplicity of rigatoni. Although there are multiple variations, I will present you with a basic recipe. If you have dietary restrictions or desire a particular variant, let me know.

Ingredients

400-500g of rigatoni
400g of pork shoulder
500ml of tomato puree
1 onion
2 cloves of garlic
1 carrot
1 stalk of celery
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 glass of robust red wine
Salt and pepper to taste
Chili pepper (optional)
Grated Pecorino Romano cheese to serve

Preparation

Start by finely chopping the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic.
Cut the pork shoulder into large pieces.
In a large skillet or pot, heat the olive oil and sauté the chopped vegetables until they become soft.
Add the pieces of pork and brown them until they take on color.
Deglaze with the red wine and let the alcohol evaporate.
Add the tomato puree, a pinch of salt, pepper, and if you wish, a little chili pepper. Bring the sauce to a boil.
Lower the heat and simmer gently for at least 2 hours, until the pork becomes tender and the sauce reduces.
During the sauce’s cooking time, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rigatoni according to the package instructions for al dente pasta.
After draining the pasta, save some of the pasta cooking water.
Remove the pieces of meat from the sauce and shred or chop them according to your preference.
Add the shredded meat back into the sauce and stir well to combine.
Combine the rigatoni with the sauce, add some pasta water if needed to lighten the sauce.
Serve hot with a generous dusting of Pecorino Romano cheese.

Curiosity

This dish is often associated with homestyle and traditional cooking, meant to be enjoyed with family during Sundays or holidays. In some variants, to enrich the flavor of the sauce, aromatic herbs such as rosemary or bay leaves can be added during the meat cooking process.