Ingredients Pasta + Noodles Fettuccine with White Chicken Ragù 3.5 (4) 7 Reviews This creamy chicken ragù is easy to make and boasts remarkable depth thanks to the flavors of an Italian-style sofrito made with onions, carrots, celery, and parsley. By Silvia Baldini Silvia Baldini Instagram Twitter Italian-born chef Silvia Baldini is an entrepreneur, culinary expert, and a familiar face on food television. She has competed on such shows as Beat Bobby Flay and Chopped, winning the latter. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on February 15, 2023 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Greg DuPree Active Time: 1 hrs 10 mins Total Time: 2 hrs 20 mins Yield: 6 servings Sofrito — diced vegetables, and sometimes spices cooked in oil or butter at a low heat for an extended length of time — is a cornerstone of Italian cooking and the base of many stews and sauces. It adds instant depth and personality to dishes. Ingredients 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 ounces pancetta or guanciale, finely chopped 2 medium garlic cloves 2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs 1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste 1 1/2 cups Sofrito 6 tablespoons dry white wine 2 cups organic chicken stock 2 leek leaves (from 1 leek) or 2 scallions 2 rosemary sprigs 1 fresh bay leaf 1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half 1 cup frozen sweet peas, thawed 12 ounces uncooked dried fettuccine or 16 ounces fresh fettuccine 1 1/2 ounces Parmesan cheese (about 1/3 cup), grated 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 teaspoon lemon zest 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley Sofrito 2 stalks celery 1 medium yellow onion 1 medium carrot 1/2 bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves (about 1 cup) 1/4 cup olive oil Directions Make the Sofrito Roughly chop celery, onion, carrot, and parsley by quickly and consistently rocking a mezzaluna over the vegetable mixture on a cutting board. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-low. Add vegetable mixture; cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent and vegetables are soft, about 15 minutes. Make the Fettuccine with White Chicken Ragù Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium. Add pancetta; cook, stirring often, until fat has rendered, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer pancetta to a plate, reserving drippings in Dutch oven. Add garlic to Dutch oven; increase heat to medium-high. Sprinkle chicken all over with salt and pepper. Working in batches if needed, add chicken, skin side down, to Dutch oven. Cook until golden brown on both sides, about 6 minutes. Transfer chicken thighs to a plate. Reserve garlic and 2 tablespoons drippings in Dutch oven; discard remaining drippings. Add sofrito and wine; bring to a simmer over medium. Cook, stirring and scraping up browned bits, until mixture is reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Return chicken to Dutch oven in a snug single layer; add stock, ensuring chicken is barely covered. Return mixture to a simmer over medium. While mixture comes to a simmer, bundle together leek leaves, rosemary sprigs, thyme sprigs, and bay leaf; secure with kitchen twine, and add to Dutch oven. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook until chicken is tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove Dutch oven from heat. Transfer chicken to a cutting board; partially cover Dutch oven. Let chicken and sauce stand 10 minutes. Skim and discard fat from sauce; remove and discard garlic cloves and leek-herb bundle. Stir reserved pancetta into sauce. Remove and discard skin and bones from chicken; finely shred chicken meat. Stir cream into sauce. Cook over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until sauce is reduced by nearly half and has slightly thickened, 8 to 12 minutes. Stir peas and shredded chicken into sauce; cook until peas are just tender, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat, and cover to keep warm. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Add pasta, Parmesan, butter, and lemon zest to sauce. Stir to combine, adding splashes of reserved cooking liquid as needed to form a creamy sauce. Sprinkle with parsley. Serve in large bowls. Make ahead Sofrito can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 5 days. Suggested pairing Tart, medium-bodied Barbera d’Asti. Rate it Print