Travel S HelperWorld of FoodItalian FoodMaccheroncini di Campofilone al ragù
Italy · Campofilone / Marche

Maccheroncini di Campofilone al ragù

Maccheroncini di Campofilone are exceptionally fine egg pasta from Campofilone in the Marche. This home serving pairs purchased IGP pasta with a slowly reduced Marche-style ragù of beef, pork and a small amount of chicken liver, keeping the delicate strands separate rather than drowning them in sauce.

Traditional Italian recipeEgg pasta / first course
Share
Maccheroncini di Campofilone al ragù: wide hero view of the finished traditional dish
Prep30 minutes
Cook1 h 55 min
Total2 h 25 min
Yield6 servings
The dish

About Maccheroncini di Campofilone al ragù

Regione Marche identifies Maccheroncini di Campofilone IGP as pasta made exclusively in Campofilone, distinguished by extremely thin sheets and a very fine cut.

The IGP dough is notably egg-rich, uses no added water and is dried on characteristic paper sheets; for a home recipe outside the protected zone, using genuine packaged IGP pasta avoids making a false certification claim.

Italia.it describes Marche ragù as combining beef, pork and poultry offal, a fitting regional condiment for Campofilone pasta.

Because the pasta is so fine, it cooks quickly and needs a sauce that is concentrated enough to cling without turning the strands heavy.

Technique

Three things that matter

  • Reduce the ragù thoroughly. A watery sauce overwhelms very fine egg pasta and makes it clump.
  • Treat liver as seasoning. A small quantity deepens the Marche ragù without dominating the beef and pork.
  • Cook pasta at the last moment. Fine Campofilone strands can go from tender to overcooked quickly.
Cook the dish

Ingredients

Everything needed to prepare the dish, arranged for fast scanning before cooking.

Marche-style ragù

  • 35 mlextra-virgin olive oil
  • 100 gonionfinely diced
  • 70 gcarrotfinely diced
  • 60 gceleryfinely diced
  • 250 gbeef mince
  • 180 gpork mince
  • 80 gchicken livertrimmed and finely chopped
  • 120 mldry red or white wine
  • 700 gpassata or crushed tomatoes
  • 150 mllight meat stock
  • 1bay leaf
  • 8 gfine sea saltadjust to taste
  • 1/2 tspblack pepper

Pasta and finish

  • 420 gMaccheroncini di Campofilone IGP
  • 50 gParmigiano Reggiano or aged pecorinofinely grated, optional
  • saltfor pasta water
Step by step

Method

Build the ragù

  1. Soften the battuto. Heat olive oil and cook onion, carrot and celery over medium-low heat for 8–10 minutes.

    The vegetables should be soft and sweet without dark browning.
  2. Brown the meats. Raise heat, add beef and pork and cook until moisture evaporates and browned bits form; add chopped chicken liver for the final 2 minutes.

    The meat should smell roasted rather than boiled and no raw liver colour should remain.
  3. Deglaze with wine. Add wine and scrape the pan until it has almost fully evaporated.

    The sharp alcohol aroma should disappear before tomatoes enter.

Slowly reduce the sauce

  1. Add tomato and stock. Stir in passata, stock, bay leaf, salt and pepper and bring only to a gentle simmer.

    The sauce should bubble slowly rather than boil aggressively.
  2. Cook uncovered. Simmer 75–90 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding a splash of water only if it threatens to catch.

    The ragù should become thick, glossy and spoon-coating.
  3. Finish the seasoning. Remove bay, adjust salt and pepper and keep the ragù barely warm.

    It should taste concentrated enough to season pasta with a modest amount.

Cook the fine pasta

  1. Prepare abundant water. Bring a wide pot of salted water to a full boil and warm the serving bowl.

    The pot should have enough space that the long fine strands do not mat together.
  2. Boil briefly. Add the Maccheroncini and cook according to the IGP package timing, often only a few minutes, separating gently with a pasta fork.

    The strands should be tender but retain a slight bite and remain distinct.
  3. Dress gently. Drain carefully, transfer to the warm bowl and fold through enough hot ragù to coat; serve extra sauce and cheese separately.

    The strands should stay visible and lightly coated rather than buried.
Practical guidance

Practical guidance

Protected name

Only pasta produced under the IGP specification in Campofilone can legitimately carry that certification; this recipe therefore uses purchased IGP pasta.

Make-ahead

The ragù improves after a night chilled and can be reheated slowly while fresh pasta water comes to the boil.

Serving

Use a lighter hand with sauce than for thick pasta shapes; the defining feature is the fine egg pasta itself.

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting

  • Pasta clumps. The pot was too small, the strands were not separated early or they stood after draining. Dress immediately.
  • Ragù tastes metallic or bitter. Chicken liver was over-browned. Add it briefly after the main meats have browned.
  • Sauce slides off. It is still too watery. Reduce before cooking the pasta.
Nutrition per serving

Nutrition per serving

  • Serving size: 1 pasta course
  • Calories: approximately 620 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 69 g
  • Protein: 34 g
  • Fat: 22 g
  • Fibre: 6 g
  • Sodium: 690 mg

Estimate depends on the packaged IGP pasta and amount of cheese used.

Allergens and food safety

Allergens and food safety

Contains gluten and egg; cheese adds milk.

Cook chicken liver fully within the ragù and refrigerate the finished sauce promptly.

Reheat leftover ragù to 74°C.

FAQ

FAQ

Can Maccheroncini di Campofilone be homemade anywhere?

A similar fine egg pasta can be made at home, but the IGP name belongs to production meeting the protected specification in Campofilone.

Why is no water added to IGP dough?

The official specification relies on a high proportion of fresh eggs for hydration.

What makes the pasta special?

Its exceptionally thin sfoglia and very fine cut distinguish it from thicker tagliolini.

Final note

What matters most

  • Result: Feather-fine egg-pasta strands lightly coated in a concentrated savoury Marche ragù, with the pasta remaining distinct and delicate.
  • Key: Use genuine IGP pasta, reduce the sauce well and cook the strands only at the moment of serving.