This rich and comforting sausage ragù recipe is a a feast for the senses, packed with flavour from chickpeas, chorizo, tomato, paprika and, of course, good-quality Italian sausages. Luke suggests serving the ragù with focaccia and a glass of red wine for maximum enjoyment.
To begin, add the oil to a heavy-based pan (preferably a cast iron one) and place over a medium heat – it will look like an excessive amount of oil at this stage but don't worry, it will play an important part in the sauce later on
100ml of extra virgin olive oil, good quality
2
Once hot, add the sausages and allow to colour. Remove from the pan and set aside once golden
Cut the chorizo into long slices and add to the onion and garlic, along with the chilli flakes, paprika and tomato puree. Cook out for a further 7–10 minutes – at this point, the oil should be a bright red colour
Add the wine, bring to a rapid boil and allow to reduce by half. Add the tinned tomatoes, tinned chickpeas (including the liquid in the tin) and water. Return the sausages to the pan and reduce the liquid by half
Add the parsley to the ragù and stir. Squeeze in half of the lemon (without the zest) and place the ragù in the centre of the table. Splash over a final touch of olive oil and sprinkle liberally with the garlic, lemon and Parmesan mixture. Grind over a twist of black pepper and eat with fresh focaccia and red wine. Sit back and enjoy the life you have for five peaceful minutes!
Luke Holder comes by his taste for ultra-authentic local cuisine honestly: he's spent large chunks of his career soaking up regional techniques in far-flung parts of the world.
