Quick(ish) Asian Ragu
If you look up the word umami in the dictionary. you’ll find a picture of this.
Servings: 4 yield(s)
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to serve
  • 500 g beef mince
  • 500 g pork mince
  • 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp Korean gochujang paste
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 star anise
  • 2 x 400g cans whole peeled tomatoes
  • 500 g dried spaghetti
  • finely grated parmesan cheese, to serve
  • sea salt
    • Lemon panko pangrattato
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley
  • 1 tsp sea salt
Instructions
  1. For the quick beef ragu, heat the olive oil in a deep frying pan over high heat. Add the beef and spread it out in the pan. Season with a sprinkle of salt and allow to sear for 4–5 minutes or until you get a nice deep colour on the bottom of the mince. Then break the mince up with your spatula. Add the pork mince and cook for another couple of minutes or until almost cooked through.
  2. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Then add in the miso paste and tomato paste and cook, stirring, until well combined with the mince. Add the soy sauce, star anise and tinned tomatoes. Use a wooden spoon to break up the tomatoes a little. Turn the heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes.
  3. In the meantime, make the lemon panko pangrattato. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over high heat. Add the panko breadcrumbs and toss for 2–3 minutes or until golden. Remove from heat and stir through the lemon zest, parsley and sea salt.
  4. To serve, cook the spaghetti in boiling water until only just al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the spaghetti and add it back in the warm pot, along with the ragu and the pasta cooking water. Place back onto a medium-high heat. Drizzle with olive oil. Use tongs to toss the pasta and sauce until well combined and the sauce is thick and glossy. Divide among serving bowls. Top with parmesan, a generous sprinkle of the lemon panko pangrattato and a final drizzle of olive oil.