Food Recipes Dinner Vegetarian Main Course Charred Vegetable Ragù 4.8 (16) 22 Reviews Comfort food takes many forms. For me, it’s a Sunday sauce. One filled with fat tomatoes and that has simmered all day, deepening in flavor, its scent perfuming my home. But on weeknights after work, when I need that slow-cooked comfort most, I want it in a hurry. That’s when I look for a quick but intense cooking method that builds flavor fast.Cue the broiler, which I use to infuse my hearty vegetarian ragù with smoky richness. I set the roughly chopped mirepoix (a combination of yellow onion, celery, and carrots, with some portobellos and garlic for good measure) under the broiler to create a charred crust that adds layers of smoky flavor. Plenty of cremini mushrooms, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and dry red wine round out the sauce on the stove. Ladled over a pile of tagliatelle and topped with more cheese, this nourishing sauce tastes slow-cooked and comforting, especially on a wintry weeknight. By Kelsey Jane Youngman Kelsey Jane Youngman Kelsey Jane Youngman is a New York–based cook, baker, writer, and editor for Food & Wine with over 7 years of experience in food media. Kelsey has developed recipes, worked in culinary production, starred in cooking videos, and baked cookies for Cookie Monster.Expertise: recipe development, cooking, baking, food styling.Experience: Kelsey Jane Youngman has spent her life in kitchens, and began her professional training at the San Francisco Cooking School before moving to New York City to attend the Natural Gourmet Institute. She completed an externship in the Good Housekeeping test kitchen and cooked on the line at several city restaurants before joining Food & Wine's test kitchen editorial team. There, Kelsey has managed the kitchens, tested and developed recipes, written feature stories, worked as a culinary producer on multiple video series, and starred in her own series, "The Best Way," as well as several episodes of "F&W Cooks." Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 20, 2023 Tested by Food & Wine Test Kitchen Tested by Food & Wine Test Kitchen Recipes published by Food & Wine are rigorously tested by the culinary professionals at the Dotdash Meredith Food Studios in order to empower home cooks to enjoy being in the kitchen and preparing meals they will love. Our expert culinary team tests and retests each recipe using equipment and ingredients found in home kitchens to ensure that every recipe is delicious and works for cooks at home every single time. Meet the Food & Wine Test Kitchen Save Rate PRINT Share Active Time: 40 mins Total Time: 1 hr Yield: 4 Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 4 large portobello mushrooms, stemmed and quartered 1 garlic head 1 yellow onion, peeled and quartered 2 celery stalks, cut into thirds 2 carrots, peeled and cut into thirds 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 8 ounces fresh cremini mushrooms, stemmed and quartered 1/2 cup tomato paste 2 teaspoons dried oregano 1/2 cup dry red wine 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 12 ounces uncooked bronze-cut durum wheat tagliatelle pasta (such as Seggiano Organic) 2 ounces Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated (about 1/2 cup), plus more for serving Directions Preheat broiler to low with oven rack in middle of oven. Toss together portobellos, garlic, onion, celery, carrots, and 1 tablespoon oil on a large rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread in a single layer. Broil in preheated oven until vegetables are charred in spots, about 20 minutes, rotating pan and flipping vegetables halfway through. Let cool 5 minutes. Squeeze roasted garlic out of skins; discard skins. Transfer garlic and vegetable mixture to a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped, about 4 times; set aside. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high. Add cremini mushrooms; cook until bottoms of mushrooms are browned, about 3 minutes. Stir and cook until browned on all sides, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and oregano; cook, stirring constantly, about 1 minute. Add wine; cook, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Stir in roasted vegetable mixture; season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high. Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Drain, reserving 11/2 cups cooking liquid. Transfer cooked pasta to skillet with sauce, and return to heat over medium. Add cheese and remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Stir in reserved cooking liquid, 1/2 cup at a time, until sauce is creamy, about 3 minutes. Season with salt to taste. Divide pasta among 4 warm bowls; top with grated cheese. Victor Protasio Make Ahead Ragù sauce can be prepared, cooled completely, and stored in an air‑tight container in refrigerator up to 3 days. Notes To make this dish vegan, omit the cheese, or use vegan cheese, such as Violife Just Like Parmesan. Originally appeared: January 2020 Rate It Print