Recipes

Beef Ragu

Tender fall-apart beef mixed up in a rich tomato-based pasta sauce.

Prep Time 15mins
Cook Time 6-8hrs in Slow Cooker (40mins in pressure cooker)
Difficulty Easy
Serves 8
Beef Ragu

Ingredients

  • 800g boneless beef chuck roast
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 brown onion
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 carrot
  • 2 celery sticks
  • 2 sprigs rosemary (or 1 tbsp dried rosemary)
  • 2 sprigs sage (or 1 tbsp dried sage)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 400g canned crushed tomatoes
  • OR 400g canned whole tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 cup beef stock
  • 1 tsp brown sugar (optional)
  • OR 1 tsp white sugar (optional)
  • 3 tbsp finely grated parmesan
  • salt
  • pepper
  • steamed veggies
  • cooked pasta (or rice)

Method

  • Prep Ingredients: Cut the beef chuck roast into 4-6cm cubes. Peel and cut the brown onion into chunks. Finely chop the garlic. Finely dice the carrot and celery.
  • Season beef chunks with salt and pepper. Over high heat, add the oil to your cooker of choice (slow cooker, pressure cooker or crock-pot/casserole dish).
  • Add the meat to seal and brown on all sides – around 5mins.
  • Add the onion, garlic, carrot, celery and spices and stir to soften.
  • Add the wine and simmer until it has reduced by half.
  • Next add the tomatoes, paste, stock and sugar and stir to combine.
  • Cooking will then vary depending on method (see Notes section).

Slow Cooker – Place on a low heat setting for 6-8 hours. Simmer to thicken at the end of cooking if needed or remove lid in last 1-2 hours.

Pressure Cooker – Seal and bring to high pressure and cook on high for 35-45mins. Then slow or fast release. Simmer to thicken if needed.

Crock-Pot/Oven – Place uncovered in a preheated oven at 150deg for 3-4 hours, stirring gently every 1-2 hours.

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LCHF adaptation:
Switch pasta for cauli rice OR zoodles

Gluten Free adaptation:
Serve with rice or gluten free pasta

Vegetarian adaptation:
Use veggie mince alternative or 1 x can of lentils.
Use vegetable stock instead of beef stock.

Vegan adaptation:
Same as vegetarian adaptation.
Use vegan friendly cheese alternative.