Napolitana Pasta: A Traditional Italian Recipe

Napolitana pasta has become a staple in many households forever. The simple tomato-based Napolitana sauce, also known as Neapolitan or Napoli sauce, is easy to make and caters to almost every palate, making this dish everyone's favourite.

Pair your pasta dishes with ragu or meat sauce to spice it up, and you'll get the best taste you'll never forget. Interested in cooking Napolitana pasta? Follow our simple recipes here!

Spaghetti Pulled Duck Ragu

Spaghetti never goes wrong with any type of pasta sauce. This is our recipe for spaghetti pulled duck ragu with napolitana sauce:

Ingredients:

• Duck legs
• Onion
• Carrots
• Celery
• Red wine
• Tomato napolitana sauce
• Spaghetti
• Parmesan cheese
• Rosemary

Instructions:

1. In a pot, heat some oil over medium heat.
2. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery to the pot.
3. Fry the ingredients until soft.
4. Add the duck legs inside the pot and pour red wine.
5. Once the red wine is gone, add napolitana sauce to the pot.
6. Insert some rosemaries into the pot and cook for at least 2 hours.
7. Once the duck meat has become tender, pull the duck apart into shreds.
8. Simmer the shredded duck in the sauce.
9. While simmering the duck, boil spaghetti in a separate pot until it reaches al dente texture.
10. After al dente, mix the spaghetti into the sauce pot.
11. Serve the spaghetti pulled duck ragu with shaved parmesan on top.

Tagliatelle Pulled Duck Ragu

If you're into a slightly chewier texture, replace your spaghetti with tagliatelle pasta. This long, ribbon-like pasta is best combined with pulled duck ragu and napolitana sauce, creating a hearty combination.

Check out our simple recipe for this menu:

Ingredients:

• Duck legs
• Onion
• Carrots
• Celery
• Red wine
• Tomato napolitana sauce
• Tagliatelle
• Parmesan
• Rosemary

Instructions:

1. Heat some oil in a pot over medium heat.
2. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery and sauté until softened.
3. Place duck legs in the pot.
4. Pour in red wine.
5. Let the wine evaporate.
6. Stir in napolitana sauce.
7. Add fresh rosemary sprigs.
8. Simmer for at least 2 hours until the duck meat becomes tender.
9. Once the duck is tender, pull it apart into shreds.
10. While the duck simmers, cook the tagliatelle in a separate pot until it's al dente (around 8-12 minutes).
11. Add the cooked tagliatelle to the duck sauce and mix well.
12. Plate the tagliatelle with the duck ragu.
13. Finish with shaved parmesan on top to add a nutty taste.

Gnocchi Pulled Duck Ragu

In addition to spaghetti and tagliatelle, you can combine napolitana pasta and pulled duck ragu with gnocchi. This dish offers a more pillowy texture, suitable for a nice, warm meal.

Here's our step-by-step guide:

Ingredients:

• Duck legs
• Onion
• Carrots
• Celery
• Red wine
• Tomato napolitana sauce
• Parmesan
• Rosemary
• Potato gnocchi (homemade or store-bought)

Instructions:

1. Heat some oil in a pot over medium heat.
2. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté until softened.
3. Place the duck legs in the pot.
4. Pour in red wine.
5. Allow the wine to evaporate.
6. Stir in napolitana sauce.
7. Add fresh rosemary sprigs.
8. Let the mixture simmer for at least 2 hours until the duck meat becomes tender.
9. Once the duck is tender, gently pull it apart into shreds.
10. While the duck simmers, bring a separate pot of salted water to a boil.
11. Add the gnocchi to the boiling water. They'll sink initially but will rise to the surface when cooked (usually about 3-4 minutes).
12. Transfer the cooked gnocchi to the duck sauce. Mix well to coat the gnocchi.
13. Plate the gnocchi with the duck ragu.
14. Finish with shaved Parmesan on top for a nutty flavour.

Penne Pulled Duck Ragu

For a slightly bigger pasta with ridges to hold thick ragu and napolitana sauce, replace the pasta with penne. Check out our recipe here:

Ingredients:

• Duck legs
• Onion
• Carrots
• Celery
• Red wine
• Tomato napolitana sauce
• Parmesan
• Rosemary
• Penne pasta (homemade or store-bought)

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat.
2. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté until softened.
3. Place duck legs in the pot.
4. Pour in red wine.
5. Let the wine evaporate.
6. Add napolitana sauce (rich tomato-based sauce).
7. Include fresh rosemary sprigs.
8. Simmer for at least 2 hours until duck meat is tender.
9. Once tender, pull the duck apart into shreds.
10. In a separate pot, boil salted water.
11. Add penne pasta and cook for about 12 minutes until al dente.
12. Drain cooked penne pasta.
13. Mix pasta into duck sauce.
14. Serve penne pasta with duck ragu on a plate.
15. Finish with grated or shaved parmesan to spice up the flavour.

Our Italian pasta menu recipes, along with napolitana pasta, offer an unforgettable taste that delights your palate. Combined with pulled duck ragu, these dishes are thick, hearty, and memorable. 

Want to savour the delight of napolitana pasta dishes without the hassle of making yourself at home? Visit Piccolino Woodfired Pizza and Homemade Pasta and enjoy our authentic Italian menus. Book a table now!