Slow Simmered Meat Ragu Food

BEEF RAGU WITH LEMON-PEPPER FETTUCCINE

Steps:

• For the ragu: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat. Season the beef well with salt; then sear it on all sides, about 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their juices, wine, vinegar, fennel seeds, garlic, carrots, celery, bay leaves and onion. Season the liquid with 1 tablespoon salt. Bring to a simmer, cover and transfer to the oven. Cook until the meat is almost tender, about 2 hours. Uncover and cook until the meat is tender all the way through and falling off the bone, 30 to 45 minutes more.
• Cool the meat in the braising liquid. Remove and discard the bay leaves. Place the meat on a cutting board and pull it into large bite-size chunks with 2 forks. Remove any fat from the surface of the sauce and discard; return the meat to the sauce. (The dish can be prepared to this point up to 2 days ahead, the cooled, covered and refrigerated.)
• For the pasta: Mix the semolina flour and 1 teaspoon salt in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the eggs, yolks, lemon zest and juice and pepper; mix slowly to make a rough dough. Switch to the dough hook attachment and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes. Form the dough into a ball by hand; cover with plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Divide the dough into 10 pieces and cover with a towel. Roll the dough with a pasta machine into sheets to setting number 6. Dust with semolina and lay on baking sheets; dry for 15 minutes. Then cut into fettuccini with the appropriate attachment. Dust with semolina and set aside on baking sheets; dry for at least 1 hour.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat and salt it generously. Add the fettuccini and cook, stirring frequently, until al dente, about 4 minutes. Drain and toss with the grated pecorino. Transfer to serving plates. Spoon the meat sauce over the pasta and sprinkle with the parsley.
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SLOW-SIMMERED MEAT RAGU

Steps:

• In a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker, combine the first 11 ingredients. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and onion; cook and stir until sausage is no longer pink and onion is tender. Drain. Add to slow cooker., Cook, covered, on low 6-8 hours or until chicken is tender. Serve with pasta. Freeze option: Do not cook or add pasta. Freeze cooled sauce in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Cook pasta according to package directions. Place meat mixture in a large saucepan; heat through, stirring occasionally and adding a little water if necessary. Proceed as directed.

SLOW COOKER RAGU

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and celery and saute for 1 minute just to soften. Add the garlic and season with salt and pepper cooking for about 3 minutes. Add the tomato paste and thyme and continue cooking for another 2 minutes. Deglaze with the beef broth using a wooden spoon to pull up any bits from the bottom of the pan. Season with salt and pepper.
• Carefully transfer mixture to the slow cooker. Stir in the canned 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. During last two hours of cooking, add canned carrots and mushrooms to ragu. Skim the accumulated grease from the top before serving.
• Serve over pasta with crusty bread for soaking up the sauce.