ragout

noun

ra·gout ra-ˈgü

: well-seasoned meat and vegetables cooked in a thick sauce

: mixture, mélange

Did you know?

If you need an English word that can refer to either a combination of food items or a random assortment of things, there's no shortage of options on the menu. If you're in the mood for a stew, there's hodgepodge (formerly "hotchpotch"), olla podrida, or gallimaufry. Perhaps you'd rather start with a palate cleanser, like macédoine or salmagundi. We also have gumbo or jambalaya, if Southern cooking is more your thing, or smorgasbord if you prefer words of Swedish descent. Then there's ragout, which comes from French ragoûter, meaning "to revive the taste," and ultimately from Latin gustus, meaning "taste."

Example Sentences

the movie is an uncertain ragout of fantasy, science fiction, and old-fashioned romance

Recent Examples on the Web The mandate to still provide all the necessary details of the watch — a ragout of numbers, abbreviations and surnames — requires some contortions.

Danny Freedman, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2022 Then the newest release of the red Ornellaia, the 2019 ‘Il Vigore’, was presented with wild boar ragout as boar is commonly hunted in Tuscany by the locals as there is an overpopulation issue.

Cathrine Todd, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2022 For pescatarians, pan-seared monkfish with a spring vegetable ragout and olive dressing is a must.

Steve Forbes, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 Go to Arcoriccardo ristorante for awesome pasta dishes like macaroni with red shrimp, or egg pasta with sea bass ragout, rocket pesto and armagnac, but be sure to see the Roman ruins beneath the floor and an arch outside to inside.

Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 11 July 2022 The lollipop shape contains a mix of nutmeg, ragout sauce and lasagna distillate covered in a béchamel gel that creates a whitish coating of puffed, crispy egg pasta powder.

Silvia Marchetti, CNN, 17 Mar. 2022 Expect anything from rabbit leg, mushroom ragout, and leek soup with pear to curveball desserts such as pumpkin mousse, marshmallow ice cream, and caramel popcorn.

Nicola Leigh Stewart, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Nov. 2021 More rich, complex, and spicier, this wine might be more appropriate for meat and mushroom ragout pasta plates.

Aly Walansky, Forbes, 1 Sep. 2021 The first one was flavors from Provence, which included eggplant caviar, pesto soup, lamb ragout with olives and lavender créme brûlée.

Ann Abel, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ragout.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

French ragoût, from ragoûter to revive the taste, from Middle French ragouster, from re- + a- ad- (from Latin ad-) + goust taste, from Latin gustus; akin to Latin gustare to taste — more at choose