Years ago, I was working at a tiny restaurant in Tuscany. This is where I first learned to make ragù—an unbelievably delicious sauce that I would let cook for hours and hours. But in the beginning, no matter how long I let it simmer, the owner would come over, taste it, and tell me the vegetables were raw! In my head I remember thinking, are you freaking kidding me? But he was right. I was skimping on an essential step—I was rushing the browning of the soffritto: the early stage in a ragù’s life cycle when the flavor begins to build and deepen. Now, of course, I’m super-sensitive to this step, and when I taste a ragù in a restaurant, I can tell instantly if the chef has taken a shortcut at the browning stage. So be patient—if you’re taking the time and effort to make this spectacular sauce, don’t rush it; brown it and enjoy!
This classic carbonara traps crispy pancetta and all that silky sauce in big tubes of rigatoni.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
The silky French vanilla sauce that goes with everything.
Your new house dressing: creamy, herby, and dangerously dippable.
All the cozy vibes of the classic gooey-cheesy dish, made into a 20-minute meal.
This piquant French sauce comes together in the blender in just five minutes.
This flavorful fish stock is your secret weapon for bouillabaisse, shrimp risotto, clam chowder, and more.
This flexible recipe is all you need to bring this iconic Provençal seafood stew to your table.