Charred Vegetable Ragù

Comfort food takes many forms. For me, it’s a Sunday sauce. One filled with fat tomatoes and that has simmered all day, deepening in flavor, its scent perfuming my home. But on weeknights after work, when I need that slow-cooked comfort most, I want it in a hurry. That’s when I look for a quick but intense cooking method that builds flavor fast.Cue the broiler, which I use to infuse my hearty vegetarian ragù with smoky richness. I set the roughly chopped mirepoix (a combination of yellow onion, celery, and carrots, with some portobellos and garlic for good measure) under the broiler to create a charred crust that adds layers of smoky flavor. Plenty of cremini mushrooms, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and dry red wine round out the sauce on the stove. Ladled over a pile of tagliatelle and topped with more cheese, this nourishing sauce tastes slow-cooked and comforting, especially on a wintry weeknight.