Italian ragus tend to be long-simmered dishes, but a French ragout is a quicker affair, a thick, cheesy stew. Tossed over pasta, this one is a true fusion, a halfway point between ragu and ragout.
A pinch of saffron goes a long way to add flavor and intense color. The aromatic spice is expensive, and can be eliminated without sacrificing all the flavor. With or without the spice, this pasta and chicken soup recipe is low-cal and low-fat.
