The Butcher's Pasta Sauce (Slow Cooker)
As shared from the kitchen of Once Upon a Plate by Mari
www.onceuponaplate1.com
Makes about 10 cups
Special Equipment:
Electric Slow Cooker
Ingredients:
Use any of the following raw meats (or any combination)~ half a pound ground beef, a pork chop, an extra sausage, or a chicken breast (chop meat up in food processor.) This sauce is usually served on a chunky pasta; cavatelli, orecchiette, etc. I used perciatelli (bucatini).
1 large onion, chopped
2 medium celery ribs, chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 pound ground lamb
2 tablespoons tomato paste
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine (may use red)
2 28-ounce cans Italian peeled tomatoes, packed in tomato puree, chopped
Optional (I always add):
Dried oregano, crumbled
a sprig or two of fresh rosemary
Method:
Cook vegetables in the oil over medium heat in a large skillet, cook until tender, but not browned. This will take approximately 10 minutes. Add a little water if the onion begins to brown, and lower heat just a bit.
Add the meats and cook, with the back of a spoon, break up any large lumps of meat. Cook until lightly browned, stir in the tomato paste, salt and pepper and herbs if you are using them. Add wine and bring the mixture to a simmer.
Pour the tomatoes into the cooking container of a large slow cooker, scrape the meat and vegetables from the pan into the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours, until the sauce is thickened. Adjust seasonings and serve. After cooling, it keeps covered in the refrigerator for about 4 days. This freezes beautifully.
Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Michele Scicolone's "The Italian Slow Cooker"
