Ziti Pasta with la Genovese ragu; recipe from Naples.
Ziti pasta with la Genovese ragu, or alla Genovese, is a traditional iconic Neapolitan recipe. This is actually a very old recipe, apparently dating back to the 15th century. In fact, this is one of the most typical dishes that families in Naples prepare for Sunday lunch and holidays. However, it is relatively unknown outside of Campania.
Ziti con la Genovese da Napoli.
The recipe for pasta with Genovese ragu is basically onions (lots of onions!) and beef cooked together for 3- 4 hours (yes 4 hours!!) to create a thick rich sauce, which is served with pasta, normally ziti or zitoni.
(This recipe was first published in 2017 but has been updated)
As in a number of other traditional Italian slow cooked pasta recipes like Ischian rabbit and duck ragu, most of the meat is served separately as a main course. But, you can also serve it just with the pasta (as I did) or save it for another meal.
La Genovese doesn’t come from Genova!
Interestingly, the name of this recipe is not indicative of the place of origin as it is for dishes like tagliatelle alla bolognese, which is a typical recipe from Bologna in Emilia Romagna. This dish isn’t eaten in Liguria or Genova, where Genovese refers to basil pesto. There are a number of theories as to how it came to be called la Genovese. Some believe this pasta with la Genovese ragu was simply invented by a Neapolitan chef whose surname or perhaps nickname was ‘the Genovese’. 
Others believe that it is connected to the Genovese cooks living in Naples when the city was under Aragonese and Spanish rule in the fifteenth century. These cooks were known for their pasta sauces based on meat. This sauce is mentioned as a ‘ragu’ in a famous Italian recipe book from the 19th century. The Theoretical Kitchen-Practice, written by Ippolito Cavalcanti, Duke of Buonvicino. is the book that brought Neapolitan cuisine to the world!
The recipe in Cavalcanti’s book is less elaborate than the one popular today. This version most likely dates back to the second half of the 19th century, and was considered the poor version of a classic ragu.
The right ingredients for pasta la Genovese!
To make ziti pasta with la Genovese you have to choose a cut of meat, usually beef, that is well suited to long slow cooking such as a chuck roast or braising steak. The onions they use in Naples are traditionally coppery outside and slightly red inside, particularly Montoro onions. But, you can use normal yellow onions.
Finally, to make your pasta la Genovese very Neapolitan, use ziti or zitoni that have been broken in half by hand before cooking. If you can’t find this pasta then short pasta such as rigatoni or penne work well too!
Cook it long and slow!
The true secret of pasta with la Genovese ragu is the long and very slow cooking of the ragu. This is the only way to get the classic brown colour of the sauce, onions that are almost like jam and meat that will melt in your mouth. Obviously, every Neapolitan family has its own recipe with slightly different quantities and ingredients.
I have come across versions that are cooked for 5 hours and some for 2! Others that include different herbs, other types of meat and also tomatoes. I made it without tomatoes. Traditionally, la Genovese is supposed to be a ‘white’ sauce. This recipe doesn’t normally require broth or water as the onions create a lot of liquid. But, if your sauce is drying out, add some beef stock or water.
I have to say this ragu was one of the best I have ever eaten and so worth the time it takes to make. I have eaten it in Naples and, obviously made it myself! Of course, it’s not a dish you can cook every week, but for special occasions. I think it’s perfect. I hope you’ll give it a try!
If you do try this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think. Please write a comment here on the blog or post a comment on the Pasta Project Facebook page.
Your feedback means a lot to me!
Buon Appetito!
Other recipes from Naples
- Ziti pasta with Italian lardo (ziti lardiati)
- Linguine with baby octopus alla Luciana
- Tagliolini pasta arancini
- The best spaghetti with tomato sauce ever!
Save this recipe for later?
If you want to save this recipe for later, you can print it, bookmark this page or save it to Pinterest.
This iconic recipe from Naples involves slow cooking beef and onions to create a rich tasty sauce that can be served with pasta, as well as with potatoes.
- 320 g ziti or zitoni pasta (11oz) you can also use penne or rigatoni
- 1.5 kg coppery onions (3.3lbs) you can also use normal yellow onions
- 900 g beef (2lbs) chuck steak or brasing steak
- 2 stalks celery washed and cut into small pieces
- 2 carrots washed and cut into small pieces
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 handful fresh parsley
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- salt for pasta and to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 1/2 glass dry white wine
- 50 g Parmigiano Reggiano (2oz) grated for serving
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Begin by peeling the onions and slicing them thinly. Wash and cut the carrots and celery into small pieces
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Remove any fat from the meat and cut it into about 5-7 pieces
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Heat the olive oil in a deep pan. Fry the carrots, celery and onions together for a couple of minutes, stirring continuously.
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Add the meat, parsley, bay leaves and a teaspoon of salt. Mix together and cook for a couple of minutes until the meat starts to brown. (some people prefer to brown the meat first, I didn’t)
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Cover the pot, lower the heat and cook for about 3 hours. You will need to check it and stir every now and again, but the onions should create enough liquid for the meat to cook in. If it seems dry add some beef stock or water.
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After 3 hours, remove the bay leaves, add half the wine, salt and pepper to taste, stir and let simmer on a low heat uncovered for one hour. You may need to add more wine as the sauce reduces. Continue to stir often.
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Once the meat is very soft you can remove it from the sauce and save it to serve later, apart from a small quantity which should be shredded (cut into very small pieces) and returned to the sauce. Alternatively shred all the meat and return it to the sauce. (this is what I did)
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Put a pot of water on to boil for the pasta. Add salt once it starts to boil. Bring to the boil again.
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If you are using long ziti or zitoni, break the pasta in half or 3 pieces before adding it to the water. Cook the pasta al dente according to the instructions on the packet.
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When the pasta is cooked, save a cup of the cooking water and drain. If your sauce seems dry, add some of the pasta cooking water and stir. Add the pasta to the sauce and mix well or in the case of long pieces of pasta it may be easier to cover it with sauce once you have plated it.
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Serve immediately with chopped parsley and grated Parmigiano cheese.
This recipe really needs to be cooked for a long time, although the process may be sped up by using a pressure cooker, I'm not sure that the results would be as delicious. In Naples, they traditionally use use ziti or zitoni pasta that has been broken in half by hand before cooking. If you can’t find this pasta then short pasta such as rigatoni or penne work well too.
This dish can be made a day or two in advance and kept in the fridge (in fact the sauce tastes even better). You can also serve the sauce with pasta and most the pieces of meat with potatoes. Two meals or courses with the work of one!
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This recipe looks fantastic! Can’t wait to get my hands in all ingredients and try it in my kitchen!
I cannot tell you how much i like ziti pasta. This recipe looks absolutely delish and I am definitely going to make it.
I LOVE reading history-related stuff to recipes. 15th century?! I find that fascinating. I’m glad you posted this recipe so that those of us from outside of Campania can have a try. 🙂
Looks delicious and easy to make!
This dish looks SO deliciously good. I wish I could eat that right now!
Onions, beef, and pasta sound like the perfect combination to me! What a delicious combination of flavors!
This sounds so delicious and Can’t wait to try it!
This is such an interesting cuisine and dish. I’m sure it’s delicious with full of flavors.
I am from Piemonte and I had never heard of this pasta before! To me, “genovese” is pesto-related. So interesting to get to learn about this recipe through your post!
Rich delicious dish that is simple to make. Will absolutely make again. Delicious.
I love the way this ragu looks! It’s so much heartier than the ragu I see here.
So delicious! We will be making this again & again. I love the simplicity and flavor. So Good!
Thanks. Your recipe looks delicious. The meat is cooked to perfection, soft and tender and juicy. Mouth melting and yum.
This sounds amazing! I always learn something when I come to your site too 🙂 thank you for educating us I love learning new things especially about food!
Nice recipe, looks tasty, thanks for sharing this recipe.
Seems So Yummy and Interesting !! Wanna try
Tasted Ragu in Tuscany and I love it. I love Pasta too and this is like a double whammy
I am not familiar with this recipe but this Ziti Pasta looks absolutely delicious. I think I am going to make one in my kitchen
Yum. This sounds awesome. Thanks for sharing.
Sounds so yummy. I have heard of Ragu but it never looked like this. This is stunning.
This dish looks so comforting and filling. Can’t wait to try it!
I love ragu! Low and slow is always the way to go when making them, too, so I’m glad you pointed that out. Your version sounds so delicious, I may just have to put this on my list of meals to make this week.
Mmm that slow-cooked meat must be absolutely delicious!
must try this over the weekend!
Have tasted Ragu from time to time but have never tased this recipe. Book marking this
Yum!! Sounds like a stew over pasta! My family would love this!
My boys love ziti! What an interesting story about the background on the Genovese.
There is no doubt that Genovese cuisine is delightful. Loving this pasta dish so much need to make it soon.
I loved, loved, loved this ziti pasta and I have saved it as we want to have this again super soon. It is a dream of a dish. Loved the simplicity and the flavours. Amazing! Such a shame I cannot rate this recipe but the 5 stars wouldn’t do it, defo need a 6-7 stars!