Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese
This is a recipe that screams for the use of a slow cooker. As the author of this recipe stated, slow cookers can maintain a very low temp, much lower than a hob can maintain, so this will simmer for 6 hours and the flavors will blend perfectly and the beef will be tender. For this recipe, it involves some work on the hob first, then the slow cooker takes over. This feeds a crowd, perfect for visiting friends or family. On my to cook list.
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- olive oil, as needed
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 onions, diced
- 1 kilo ground beef, for this recipe, I do not recommend pork, (2 lb)
- ½ cup beef broth, fresh or from powder
- 2 cans whole peeled tomatoes, chopped, juice reserved, (565 g / 20 oz each)
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons beef stock powder
- 2 tablespoons Worcherstershire sauce
- 3 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 500 grams spaghetti, (1 lb)
Instructions
- In a large non-stick pan, heat a splash of olive oil and cook the onion and garlic until the onion is soft. Place this in your slow cooker. Add another slash of olive oil in the same pan. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, add the ground beef to the slow cooker.
- Add the remaining ingredients EXCEPT THE SPAGHETTI, to the slow cooker and give that a mix. Cook on Low setting for 6 hours.
- For the spaghetti, you can do this two different ways.
- 1st Way. Cook the pasta in a pot of boiling water until just tender. Reserve about 2 cups of water from the pasta pot and set aside, drain the rest and return the pasta to the pot and add sauce, about 4-6 cups and 1 cup of the reserved pasta water, gently mix over medium heat for a few minutes and the sauce will thicken and coats the pasta, serve.
- 2nd Way. Cook the pasta in a pot of boiling water until just tender. Drain and plate a serving of pasta and top with sauce, serve.
Notes
The ground beef, or beef in general is costly. Depending on your location, you may be able to get ground beef and will pay top dollar for it. Getting large cuts of beef and grinding (or chopping) yourself is preferred and most cost effective. For ground beef, I will go with about 200 Baht/kilo. For 8 servings, this is about 75 cents per serving.
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