Parpardelle with Slow Cooked Duck Ragout

Name: Parpardelle with Slow Cooked Duck Ragout
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H30M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT8H5M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT8H35M0.000S
Yield: 2 1/2 quarts ragout, serving 8 generously
Cuisine: italian
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 (6-pound) roasting duck, in pieces, boneless, skin-on, breasts grounded, livers chopped and reserved separately; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; 3 ounces thick-cut bacon, chopped; 1 cup minced carrots; 1 cup minced celery; 1 cup minced onions; 2 cups minced leeks; 1/2 cup dry red wine; 2 (14-ounce) cans diced tomatoes, coarsely processed with juices; 2 bay leaves; 2 cloves garlic, smashed; 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano leaves, crumbled; 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper; 2 sprigs fresh rosemary; 1 sprig fresh thyme; 1 sprig fresh oregano; 6 cups duck or chicken stock; 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley leaves; 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme, oregano or marjoram; 1 1/2 pounds dried pappardelle, cooked al dente and drained; Finely grated or shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, for serving

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Level: Intermediate
Total: 8 hr 35 min

Prep: 30 min
Cook: 8 hr 5 min

Yield: 2 1/2 quarts ragout, serving 8 generously

Level: Intermediate
Total: 8 hr 35 min

Prep: 30 min
Cook: 8 hr 5 min

Yield: 2 1/2 quarts ragout, serving 8 generously

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 (6-pound) roasting duck, in pieces, boneless, skin-on, breasts grounded, livers chopped and reserved separately

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 ounces thick-cut bacon, chopped

1 cup minced carrots

1 cup minced celery

1 cup minced onions

2 cups minced leeks

1/2 cup dry red wine

2 (14-ounce) cans diced tomatoes, coarsely processed with juices

2 bay leaves

2 cloves garlic, smashed

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano leaves, crumbled

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

2 sprigs fresh rosemary

1 sprig fresh thyme

1 sprig fresh oregano

6 cups duck or chicken stock

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley leaves

1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme, oregano or marjoram

1 1/2 pounds dried pappardelle, cooked al dente and drained

Finely grated or shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, for serving

Directions

In a large Dutch oven, over medium heat, add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the duck pieces and cook, in batches if necessary and turning occasionally, until well browned on all sides, about 12 minutes. Remove from the pot and drain excess fat. Season the ground duck with salt and pepper. Add the ground duck and bacon to the pan and cook until browned and that fat has been rendered. Remove from the pot and drain excess fat. Reserve the duck in the refrigerator until ready to add to the sauce.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the carrots, celery, onions, and leeks and season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are golden and very tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour - you may need to add a bit of water towards the end of the cooking time if the vegetables begin to stick to the pan. (It is important to cook the vegetable mixture for this length of time to get a rich, deep basis for the ragout.) Add the wine and duck livers and cook, stirring, until mostly evaporated, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, bay leaves, garlic cloves, oregano, red pepper, and herb sprigs and cook, stirring, until mixture is almost dry, about 15 minutes. Return all of the duck and bacon to the pan along with 3 cups of the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and partially cover the Dutch oven. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the duck is tender, up to 6 hours, depending on the type of duck you use. You will need to add more stock little by little as the sauce reduces; you may not need all 6 cups. (Or, if you run out of stock and the duck is still not tender, add a bit of water as necessary.) The sauce should be thick but not so thick that it browns on the pan bottom. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove the duck pieces from the sauce and set aside to cool. Remove the bay leaves and herb sprigs and discard.
When the duck meat is cool enough to handle, remove the skin and discard. Shred the meat into bite size pieces and return it to the Dutch oven. Cook until the sauce is very thick and flavorful and the meat is very tender, 20 to 30 minutes longer. Add the chicken livers, parsley, and thyme; stir to combine and cook for 5 minutes longer. Taste and re-season if necessary. Remove from the heat.
When ready to serve, toss the cooked pasta in a large, warmed bowl, with enough of the sauce to coat. Serve in shallow pasta bowls, sprinkled with Parmesan, if desired.