Grounds for Celebration
Rustic Tomato and Garlic Beef Ragout with Creamy Mashed Potatoes
45 minutes
Serves 4
DinnerItalianGluten-freeNut-freeShellfish-freeSoy-free
Herb's take
Inspired by French country kitchens but with a wink to Italian technique, this ragout turns humble ground beef, tomatoes, and garlic into a dinner worth lingering over. Get ready for the coziest kind of chemistry when beef meets buttery mash.
Ingredients
Yield
4
Instructions
- 01Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cubed potatoes and cook until very tender, about 15 minutes.
- 02While potatoes cook, heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 4 minutes.
- 03Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- 04Stir in the ground beef, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook until browned and no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
- 05Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
- 06Stir in the diced tomatoes, beef broth, dried thyme, bay leaf, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- 07Drain potatoes well and return to the pot. Add butter, warmed milk, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mash until smooth and creamy.
- 08Remove the bay leaf from the beef ragout and taste for seasoning, adjusting salt and pepper if needed.
- 09To serve, spoon a generous mound of mashed potatoes into each bowl. Ladle the beef ragout over the top and sprinkle with chopped parsley.
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