Ingredients:

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

300g veal mince

salt & pepper to taste

1/2 cup white wine

500g chicken stock

3 tablespoons tomato paste

1 teaspoon dried oregano

2 tablespoons salted capers, rinsed well

3 cups orecchiette pasta

To serve:

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

1/2 cup grated pecorino romano cheese

Method:
Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil for the pasta.

Heat olive oil in a wide pan over medium heat.

Add onion and garlic, cook gently until softened and fragrant. Increase the heat, add veal mince, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks.

Deglaze with white wine, scraping the base of the pan, and let it reduce by half. Stir in tomato paste, oregano, capers, and chicken stock. Lower the heat and let it simmer until the sauce thickens and the flavours round out, about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the orecchiette until al dente, reserving a cup of the pasta water. Toss the pasta directly into the sauce, loosening with splashes of pasta water until it clings to the shells.

Finish with parsley, a drizzle of olive oil, and a heavy snowfall of pecorino romano. serve immediately — it should taste bright, savoury, and just a little briny from the capers.