Description
This hearty Rigatoni Mafiosi combines juicy ground beef with a rich tomato sauce, creating an irresistible flavor experience. Perfect for a cozy family dinner, it’s quick to prepare and budget-friendly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 500 gr Rigatoni/Tortiglioni
- 750 gr ground beef (mixed)
- 1 onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 700 gr crushed tomatoes
- 200 ml cooking cream (15% fat)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tsp Italian herbs (basil, thyme, oregano) (or Italian spice mix)
- 1 tsp chili flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- 75 gr Parmesan (freshly grated)
- 1 tbsp oil for frying
Instructions
- Prepare the onion and garlic: Peel the onion and garlic cloves. Dice the onion finely and chop the garlic cloves. This should take about 5 minutes.
- Cook the rigatoni: In a large pot, boil enough salted water and add the rigatoni. Cook according to package instructions until al dente (usually about 10-12 minutes). Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Sauté the onion and garlic: In a large pan, heat the oil and sauté the diced onion over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until translucent. Then add the garlic and sauté for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Brown the ground beef: Add the ground beef to the pan and cook for about 5-7 minutes until evenly browned. Make sure to break it up with a wooden spoon to prevent clumping.
- Add spices and tomato paste: Stir in the Italian herbs, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and optionally the chili flakes, and sauté for 1-2 minutes to release the flavors.
- Deglaze with crushed tomatoes and cream: Pour in the crushed tomatoes and cooking cream. Stir well and let the sauce simmer for about 5-10 minutes until it thickens slightly. Add pasta water as needed to adjust the consistency.
- Combine rigatoni: Once the pasta is al dente, drain it and add it to the sauce in the pan. Stir thoroughly to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce.
- Incorporate Parmesan: Sprinkle the freshly grated Parmesan over the pasta and stir until it melts and the sauce becomes creamy. This should only take 1-2 minutes.
- Serve: Check the seasoning and adjust as desired. Serve the Rigatoni Mafiosi immediately, ideally with extra Parmesan for sprinkling.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
Keywords: For a lighter version, you can use plant-based cream or yogurt, but this may slightly alter the flavor. Feel free to experiment with different spices or vegetables to customize the dish to your taste.