Skip to main content

Caline’s Mushroom Veggie Ragout

During a recent visit to my sister-in law I learned a fantastic plant-forward ragout she makes regularly. With me as her sous chef, we whipped up this ragout very quickly, making a really rich, festive birthday dinner for my wife.


You could add browned ground meat to the sauce and amp it up even more, but I make it veg, as she usually does, since it has plenty of flavor punch. Especially if you don't add meat, don't forget the coconut aminos or soy sauce for the umami kick.



16 oz baby portobello or button mushrooms, coarsely diced

5 oz (1/2pack) matchstick carrots (or grated, about 2 cups)

1 shallot, or 1 small onion, finely diced, or combo

1 red Fresno pepper, finely diced (or Jalapeño pepper)


2 cloves garlic, finely minced 

1 Tbsp fresh rosemary, minced (or 1 tsp dried)

1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, minced (or 1/4 tsp dried)

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste


1 medium zucchini, grated on a coarse grater

1 15-oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes (I used Trader Joe’s), drained, liquid reserved


2 Tbsp coconut aminos (or soy sauce)

1 cup dry white wine

1 28 oz can whole tomatoes, chopped


Sauté the mushrooms in a dash of olive oil in a 5 quart Dutch oven or pot. Cook until the mushrooms have released all the water they will and begin to brown nicely, about 10 minutes.  Set mushrooms aside in a bowl.  Now sauté the carrots, onion and pepper in the same pot, adding a dash more olive oil as needed, stirring from time to time.  Cook for another 10 minutes or so, to soften and slightly caramelize the veggies.  This is an important step to develop flavor.

Stir in the garlic and herbs to the pot and cook another 2 minutes.  Add the zucchini and cook another 5 minutes, stirring often. Now remove the veggies to the bowl with the mushrooms and add the drained diced tomatoes and another dash olive oil. Cook another 5 minutes, stirring often, to deepen the color and flavor of the tomatoes.


Return all veggies to the pot and add the aminos, wine and chopped tomatoes.  Stir everything well and bring to a gentle boil.  Reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook another 20-30 minutes to let flavors meld.

Makes enough to top pasta for 4-6.


Cook's Note: A can of drained lentils (or a cup of cooked lentils) would go well in this veggie ragout.


Here is the ragout with a lb browned ground beef added in - fantastic!



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Umami Beef Short Ribs Samin Nosrat

This is the penultimate prep for beef short ribs.  Based on the superb documentary by Samin Nosrat, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, this is the most umami rib dish you will ever have.  Its the combination of red miso and soy sauce that marinates and flavors the beef - give it a long time to work right - that means overnight in the fridge; it's worth the planning ahead. 6 beef short ribs on the bone, about 3-4 lb 1 large sweet yellow onion, diced 2 stalks celery, diced 1 jalapeño pepper, minced 4 cloves garlic, halved Marinade: 1/4 cup red miso 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup pale dry sherry or Mirin rice wine 1 Tbsp sesame oil 1 Tbsp honey 2 cloves garlic, minced Salt the ribs generously with coarse salt and let rest overnight in the refrigerator in a resealable plastic bag. Whisk together the marinade.   Pour into the plastic bag and allow to marinate on the counter for about 2-3 hours, or again overnight in the refrigerator. Preheat...

Vinaigrette Erique 2.0

From the archives:  Making a really, really good vinaigrette has been a craft in my family, and in my in-law family for generations. My late uncle, Jeannot, and Father-in-law, Bernard, (both best of friends) were each geniuses at the vinaigrette. And they both taught me. I have to say my siblings along with my sisters and brothers in-law do really now carry on the tradition as I strive to as well.  In our family cookbook "Cuisine Encore" I published my go-to vinaigrette - a basic version taught to me by my French mother, Monique.  It's great, yet I have been looking for something slightly more modern and upbeat.  So I merged Asian rice vinegar into the mix along with fresh (not powdered) garlic with the Dijon mustard, and toned down the salt. Make it your own. I now have what I think is an even better basic vinaigrette, today. Talk to you tomorrow! 1/4 cup cider vinegar 1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar 1 generous tsp Dijon mustard 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 cup ca...

Baked Grouper with Mushroom Wine Sauce

Fresh fish baked in a creamy mushroom sauce is always a rich reward after a hard day's work. 3/4 lb grouper (or other favorite white fish) cut into 2 portions Sauce: 2 Tbsp butter 1/2 cup onion, very finely diced 2 cloves garlic, minced through a press 1/3 cup pale dry sherry or dry white wine 1/3 cup half and half or cream 1 Tbsp corn starch 1 4-oz can mushrooms, drained and liquid reserved Preheat oven to 375F.  Sauté the onions in the butter, in a sauce pan for about 8-10 minutes, until slightly caramelized.  Add the garlic and cook for about 2 more minutes.  Add the sherry and half and half, and bring to a gentle boil. Whisk together the mushroom liquid with the cornstarch in a small bowl.  Whisk this mixture into the boiling sauce until thickened.  Add mushrooms and salt and pepper to taste.   Adjust thickness with wine, water or chicken broth if necessary, or allow sauce to thicken more by reducing slightly. Lay...