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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Slow-Cooked Short Rib Ragù with Pasta

6 Servings

3¼ hours 40 minutes active

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At Tenuta Nonno Luigi, a restaurant in the town of Bellosguardo in Italy’s Campania region, chef Giuseppe Croce taught us how he makes ragù cilentano, a unique dish not well known outside of the area. The tomato-centric sauce gets its intense flavor and thick, lush consistency from multi-hour cooking (six hours, in the case of Croce’s ragù) with various types of meat—traditionally only small amounts of scraps, he explained—that melt into and merge with the tomatoes as the ingredients slowly concentrate. To adapt his recipe, we limited the meats to two: pancetta for its salty, porky flavor and short ribs that lend deep, beefy richness. We also use tomatoes in two forms: sweet-tart canned whole tomatoes and tomato paste for depth and umami. For convenience as well as steady, even cooking, we simmer the sauce in the oven so no careful monitoring is needed. The ragù pairs especially well with sturdy, thick, chewy pasta shapes such as cavatelli or orecchiette. The finished sauce can be cooled and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days; rewarm it in a covered saucepan over medium before tossing it with just-cooked pasta.

6

Servings

Tip

Don’t add more salt and pepper at the start of cooking than the recipe calls for. As the ingredients reduce, the flavors become concentrated. It’s best to adjust seasoning at the very end, after the ragù has been tossed with the pasta. When the sauce is done, don’t skim off all of the fat that rises to the surface; a little fat delivers flavor and pasta-coating silkiness.

3¼ hours

40 minutes active

Ingredients

  • 1

    tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • 4

    ounces pancetta, chopped

Directions

Reviews
Carl K.
August 15, 2026
Crucial tip
I'm making this for the 2nd time in two weeks! I must say, I would NEVER prepare this with boneless short ribs. 2 pounds gets you 4 nice bone in which you shred easily before the 30 minute uncovered phase. The meat is fork tender. Instead of white wine, I used a 1/4 cup premium white wine vinegar. Bon Appetit
Benjamin A.
May 31, 2026
Absolutely terrific recipe.
I wasn't able to find boneless short ribs, so I sub'd chuck roast (which is what so-called boneless short ribs are). It worked wonderfully.
ANDREW L.
November 23, 2025
Great with these tweaks…
Pancetta sold out, so I bought Guanciale. Cooked it down to firm and browned, poured off most of pork fat. Browned the beef, poured off a bit of the beef fat. Added some olive oil and cooked the onion. Toasted the tomato paste. Followed the rest of the recipe but added a bit more liquid after 60 mins (splash of wine, splash of water) left it covered for the last 30 mins.
Amanda D.
September 7, 2025
So delicious!
The flavor was amazing! The short rib was incredibly tender!! I used Mezzi Rigatoni since I couldn’t find cavatelli pasta. My family loved it!! This is a keeper recipe and definitely will make again!! Thank you!!
Richard C.
April 7, 2025
A must make!
One of the best dishes. Unbelievable flavor and easy to make. Substituted bacon for the pancetta and dry vermouth for the wine. I will add more short ribs next time I make it but that's a personal preference.

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