Rigatoni with Steak Sauce

I have been making very boring stuff lately, if I have been cooking at all and nothing has been "blog worthy" so I am posting a recipe that I tried over the summer and I just LOVED. Now Michael didn't care for this, even though I specifically made it for him since it has steak in it, because he just doesn't like pasta. It is very good though and a nice balanced meal with vegetables, starch and meat all in one. It's pretty easy too!


Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 servings (note from the Diva: I think you would have to be feeding lumberjacks to only get 4 servings out of this. I remember getting AT LEAST 6)


Rigatoni with Steak Sauce

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

4 tablespoons olive oil
2 (12-ounce) rib-eye steaks
Salt and pepper
2 onions, thinly sliced
2 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
3/4 cup dry red wine (I used Merlot)
1 (26-ounce) jar marinara sauce
1 cup beef broth
16 ounces dried rigatoni pasta
3 ounces Parmesan, shaved

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a heavy large frying pan over high heat. Sprinkle the steaks with salt and pepper. Cook the steaks until they are brown but still rare in the center, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the steaks to a plate and set aside to cool completely.

Add 2 more tablespoons of olive oil to the same pan. Saute the onions and carrots until the onions are translucent, about 8 minutes, with additional salt and pepper, to taste. Add the garlic and oregano, and saute for 1 minute. Add the wine and simmer for 1 minute. Add the marinara sauce and broth. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat to allow the flavors to blend, about 10 minutes. Season the sauce, to taste, with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, trim off any fat from the steaks, then cut the steaks into bite-size pieces and set aside. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the rigatoni and boil until it is tender but still firm to the bite, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Drain the rigatoni.
Toss the rigatoni and reserved steak pieces and any accumulated juices from the steaks with the sauce to coat. Transfer the pasta to bowls. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese shavings and serve.