This venetian duck ragu recipe is from the March 2014 BBC Good Food magazine. I made it quite a few times around then and saved it in the Zest app that I used to use prior to setting up Felly Bull. It hadn't been made for quite a while, until now...but is definitely one worth sharing! David isn't a huge fan of cinnamon, but the taste is quite subtle in this dish. It has a lovely warm and comforting flavour and although it takes a bit of time to cook slowly on the hob...it's definitely worth the wait.
Tips
- The original recipe suggests paccheri pasta or pappardelle. When I’ve made it previously I’ve used paccheri pasta, although it's not the easiest pasta to find in our local supermarket. Rigatoni and penne pasta also work well.
- The recipe is easily halved if you want to make less sauce…remember to reduce the amount of pasta you cook too. However, the sauce can be frozen, so if you do make the full amount and have leftovers, it won't go to waste!
Other recipes you might also like to try
Click here for all duck recipes, and here to browse pasta dishes.
Recent New Recipes
Category Spotlight...
ITALIAN
There's loads of delicious Italian recipes to choose from...starters, salads, pasta bakes, hot and cold pasta dishes, lasagnes and risottos...enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 duck legs
- 2 onions, finely chopped
- 2 fat cloves garlic, crushed
- 250ml red wine
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp plain flour
- 1 chicken stock cube or pot (made up to 250ml)
- 2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes
- 3 rosemary sprigs, leaves picked and chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp sugar
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp milk
- 600g paccheri or pappardelle pasta (see Tips)
- grated parmesan, to serve
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan or casserole dish on a medium to high heat. Add the duck legs and brown on all sides for about 10 minutes. Remove to a plate and set aside. Add the onions to the pan, reduce the heat to medium, and cook for 5 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and cook for a further minute, then stir in the cinnamon and flour and cook for another minute. Return the duck to the pan, add the wine, tomatoes, stock cube or pot, herbs, sugar and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bring to a simmer, then lower the heat, cover with a lid and cook for 2 hours, stirring every now and then.
- Carefully lift the duck legs out of the sauce and place on a plate – they will be very tender so try not to lose any of the meat. Pull off and discard the skin, then shred the meat with 2 forks and discard the bones. Add the meat back to the sauce with the milk and simmer, uncovered, for a further 10 to 15 minutes while you cook the pasta.
- Cook the pasta following pack instructions, then drain, reserving a cup of the pasta water, and add the pasta to the ragu. Stir to coat all the pasta in the sauce and cook for 1 minute more, adding a splash of cooking liquid if it looks dry. Serve with grated parmesan…and some homemade bread!
Recipe Collection Spotlight...
20 TASTY SAUSAGE RECIPES
Sausages...or bangers are such a versatile ingredient that can be enjoyed at any time of the year. They can be used to make the best comfort food, to make sausage rolls for a snack or for party food, made into meatballs and used in pasta dishes...the list really is endless. Here's a selection of 20 tasty sausage recipes for you try...
Did you make this recipe?
I’d love to hear how it went…both good and bad!
Please go to the bottom of the page to rate the recipe and/or leave your comments.
It would also be great if you could take a photo and tag Felly Bull on social media, thanks.
Subscribe to receive our new and highlighted recipes in your email inbox each week...plus receive our new e-Cookbook for free!!!
Venetian Duck Ragu
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 duck legs
- 2 onions finely chopped
- 2 fat cloves garlic crushed
- 250ml red wine
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp plain flour
- 1 chicken stock cube or pot (made up to 250ml)
- 2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes
- 3 rosemary sprigs leaves picked and chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp sugar
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp milk
- 450g paccheri or pappardelle pasta (see Notes)
- grated parmesan to serve
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan or casserole dish on a medium to high heat. Add the duck legs and brown on all sides for about 10 minutes. Remove to a plate and set aside. Add the onions to the pan, reduce the heat to medium, and cook for 5 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and cook for a further minute, then stir in the cinnamon and flour and cook for another minute. Return the duck to the pan, add the wine, tomatoes, stock cube or pot, herbs, sugar and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bring to a simmer, then lower the heat, cover with a lid and cook for 2 hours, stirring every now and then.
- Carefully lift the duck legs out of the sauce and place on a plate – they will be very tender so try not to lose any of the meat. Pull off and discard the skin, then shred the meat with 2 forks and discard the bones. Add the meat back to the sauce with the milk and simmer, uncovered, for a further 10 to 15 minutes while you cook the pasta.
- Cook the pasta following pack instructions, then drain, reserving a cup of the pasta water, and add the pasta to the ragu. Stir to coat all the pasta in the sauce and cook for 1 minute more, adding a splash of cooking liquid if it looks dry. Serve with grated parmesan…and some homemade bread!
Notes
-
- The original recipe suggests paccheri pasta or pappardelle. When I’ve made it previously I’ve used paccheri pasta, although it's not the easiest pasta to find in our local supermarket. Rigatoni and penne pasta also work well.
-
- The recipe is easily halved if you want to make less sauce…remember to reduce the amount of pasta you cook too. However, the sauce can be frozen, so if you do make the full amount and have leftovers, it won't go to waste!
LEAVE A COMMENT AND RATE THIS RECIPE