The Best Ragu You’ll Ever Make

INGREDIENTS 1 kg beef mince (50% shin, 50% chuck) 400 g pork belly, diced 100 g pancetta, diced 200 g onion, finely diced 150 g carrots, finely diced 150 g celery, finely diced 1–2 garlic cloves, finely grated Extra virgin olive oil Neutral oil 80 g tomato purée 400 g passata 200 ml red wine Whole milk (added in two stages) ~500 ml chicken or beef stock 1 Parmesan rind 2 bay leaves Pinch of nutmeg Salt, to taste To finish Cold butter Extra milk Gastrique: 100 g balsamic vinegar + 50 g sugar METHOD 1. On low heat, add olive oil and pancetta to a heavy pot and slowly render the fat. 2. Add onion, carrot and celery with a pinch of salt. Sweat gently until soft, pale and sweet, no colour. 3. Grate in the garlic for the final 1–2 minutes, then remove the soffrito and set aside. 4. Return the pot to high heat with a little neutral oil. Add the beef mince, breaking it up and cooking hot to drive off moisture. 5. Once dry, lower the heat slightly and caramelise the beef slowly until deeply browned, scraping the fond regularly. 6. Add the pork belly and gently warm through — no heavy browning.Stir in the tomato purée and cook until it darkens and caramelises. 7. Lower the heat and add the first portion of milk. Let it fully absorb into the meat. 8. Deglaze with red wine and reduce by about half, scraping the pan clean. 9. Return the soffrito to the pot, then add passata, stock, Parmesan rind, bay leaves and a pinch of nutmeg. 10. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook in a low oven at 120°C for 4½ hours, stirring occasionally. 11. While cooking, make a gastrique by boiling the vinegar and sugar briefly until lightly thickened. 12. Once cooked, remove the bay leaves and Parmesan rind. 13. Finish with a splash of milk, cold butter for gloss, and the gastrique added gradually to balance acidity. Season to taste.