Slow Cooked Bolognese Sauce

A traditional bolognese recipe like this takes time, it’s not hard work, most of the time spent it is simmering slowly on your stove top. It’s a great recipe for a weekend or if you are working from home at the moment. Count on it taking about 4 hours from start to finish. Definitely not a recipe to start when you get home from work!

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 carrot, finely chopped
• 1 stick of celery, finely chopped
• 1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
• Salt & pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 500gm beef mince
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 150ml milk
• 150ml red wine
• 250ml beef stock
• 1 tin tomatoes, crushed

Directions

Heat the oil and butter in a heavy-based pan. Add the onion, carrot, celery and a pinch of salt. Cook stirring occasionally for 5-6 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.

Add the garlic and bay leaf and cook stirring about 1 minute. Add the beef mince and cook stirring for 5-6 minutes until the mince is cooked through, breaking up any lumps with a wooden spoon.

Add the milk and simmer, stirring frequently until it has evaporated.

Add the red wine and simmer, stirring again until evaporated.

Add the tomatoes and beef stock, stir well and bring to the boil, reduce the heat to low. Cook with the lid askew, with the spoon under the lid.

Cook for at least 3 hours, stirring occasionally, adding a little stock or water if it becomes too dry.

Check for seasoning before serving with your choice of pasta or even over polenta. If serving with pasta, remember to save a mug of the salty, starchy pasta cooking liquid to use to emulsify the pasta and sauce. Serve with a good grating of fresh parmesan. Enjoy. Sheryl x