Big Batch Bolognese Sauce From Slow Cooker Revolution Food

AUTHENTIC BOLOGNESE SAUCE RECIPE

Steps:

• Finely chop the onions and garlic, peel and finely chop the carrots and finely chop the celery. For fast chopping, chop coarsely then use a food processor to pulse and finely chop. Set aside.
• Heat a large saucepan. It will need to hold over 5 litres which is about 1 1/3 gallons.
• Add the oil and butter.
• When the oil is hot, add the onion, carrot and celery.
• Turn the heat down a tad so they don't burn.
• Fry until starting to become golden and catch a little on the bottom of the saucepan.
• In the meantime finely chop the bacon. And crush or finely chop the garlic.
• When the onion, carrot and celery are golden add the bacon and garlic and stir well. Continue to cook for a few more minutes.
• Now start adding the beef mince a bit at a time. Stirring well and allow the meat to colour.
• Then add in the pork mince a bit at a time. Repeat the same as the beef mince.
• Once the mince is well cooked add the sausages and pork ribs. You can add other meats as I have mentioned in the Recipe Notes.
• Pour in the wine and allow to boil and simmer for a few minutes.
• Now you can add the remainder of the ingredients - Parmesan rind (if using), passata, tinned tomatoes, tomato paste, stock, potato, herbs (if using) and seasonings.
• Add half of the sugar and you can taste later if the sauce needs more.
• Bring to the boil then lower the heat to a gentle simmer.
• Cover the saucepan and check and stir regularly, You may need to adjust the heat to achieve that sweet spot of a gentle simmer. This is going to be cooking for a long time so a very gentle simmer is what we are looking for here.
• Once you have achieved that perfect simmer, allow to cook for about 4 to 5 hours.
• Check regularly that the sauce is not drying out. If so, add a little boiling water.
• After about two hours of simmering. Taste and adjust the seasoning. You will be surprised at how much salt you need to add and you may need a bit more sugar. Recheck the seasoning towards the end of the cooking time.
• When the sauce is done. Remove the sausage and the ribs. Cut up the sausage finely, shred the meat from the pork ribs and add the sausage and meat back to the sauce. Find the potato pieces and crush against the side of the saucepan with a wooden spoon. Stir thoroughly.
• Allow to cool a little, then transfer to freezer containers for storage in the freezer.
• Don't put the sauce in the freezer when it's hot. Instead refrigerate until cold then freeze.
• If properly stored in the freezer, this sauce will keep for 4 to 6 months.

SLOW COOKER BOLOGNESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, carrots, celery and onions. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook about 3 minutes. Add the tomato paste, thyme and nutmeg, and continue cooking until the vegetables have softened and started to brown, about 2 minutes. Deglaze with the wine, pulling up any bits from the bottom of the pan. Season with salt and pepper.
• Carefully transfer to the slow cooker. Stir in the cream and tomatoes. Mix the pork and sirloin together in a separate bowl, using your hands, until combined. Stir the meat into the slow cooker, spreading out evenly and avoiding any large clumps. Cover and cook on high for 4 to 6 hours or on low 8 to 10 hours. Skim the accumulated grease from the surface before serving. Serve over pasta with crusty bread for soaking up the sauce.

BIG-BATCH BOLOGNESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt butter in 12-inch skillet over med-high heat.
• Add onion, carrot, celery, tomato paste, garlic, and thyme and cook until vegetables are softened and lightly browned, 8-10 minutes.
• Stir in wine, scraping up any browned bits; transfer to slow cooker.
• Stir tomatoes in slow cooker.
• Mash bread and heavy cream into paste in large bowl using fork.
• Mix in meatloaf mix, ½ tsp salt, and ½ tsp pepper using hands.
• Stir meatloaf mixture into slow cooker, breaking up any large pieces.
• Cover and cook until beef is tender, 9-11 hours on LOW or 5-7 hours on HIGH.
• Let sauce settle for 5 minutes, then remove fat from surface using large spoon.
• Break up any remaining large pieces of meat with spoon.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Makes enough sauce for 3 lb. pasta.