Name: Easy slow cooker bolognese
Cook time: 640 min
Total time: 640 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 125 grams piece prosciutto, chopped finely; 2 medium brown onions (300g), chopped finely; 1 large carrot (180g), chopped finely; 2 stalks celery (300g), trimmed, chopped finely; 2 cloves garlic, crushed; 500 minced pork; 500 minced veal; 1 cup (250ml) dry red wine; 1½ cups (375ml) beef stock; ½ cup (140g) tomato paste; 1 kg ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded, chopped coarsely; ⅓ cup finely chopped fresh Basil leaves; 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh oregano; ½ cup (40g) shaved parmesan; ½ cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, extra

This rich slow cooker bolognese sauce served with hot spaghetti makes the ultimate family meal. Let dinner cook itself tonight. Prep the ingredients and throw together in the slow cooker to make the easiest, rich and luscious bolognese sauce.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

125 grams piece prosciutto, chopped finely

2 medium brown onions (300g), chopped finely

1 large carrot (180g), chopped finely

2 stalks celery (300g), trimmed, chopped finely

2 cloves garlic, crushed

500 minced pork

500 minced veal

1 cup (250ml) dry red wine

1½ cups (375ml) beef stock

½ cup (140g) tomato paste

1 kg ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded, chopped coarsely

⅓ cup finely chopped fresh Basil leaves

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh oregano

½ cup (40g) shaved parmesan

½ cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, extra

Method

Heat half the oil in a 4.5-litre (18-cup) slow cooker on sauté (MEDIUM) setting; cook prosciutto, stirring, until crisp. Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic; cook, stirring, until vegetables soften. Remove from cooker.

Heat remaining oil in cooker; cook pork and veal, stirring, for 5 minutes or until browned. Add wine; bring to the boil. Return vegetable mixture to cooker; stir in stock, paste and tomato. Cook, covered, on low, for 10 hours.

Stir in chopped basil and oregano; cook, covered, on high, for about 10 minutes. Season to taste.

Serve bolognese topped with parmesan and extra basil leaves

Slow cooker bolognese recipe swaps

Prosciutto can be replaced with bacon. Fresh tomatoes can be replaced with 800g canned diced tomatoes.

Can you freeze slow cooker bolognese?

This slow cooker bolognese recipe is suitable to freeze at the end of step 2.

How to serve this bolognese sauce?

Serve with spaghetti or your favourite pasta, top with shaved parmesan.

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