Belly warming and made with love, this slow-cooked minced pork ragu is the perfect way to celebrate the weekend. Pour yourself a glass of wine and spend some time in the kitchen preparing this heavenly dish for you and your loved ones.
I have been making this Slow Cooked Minced Pork Ragu recipe for many years now, and I just can’t believe I haven’t popped it on the blog for you guys yet! It was one of the first ‘scary/too hard‘ recipes I attempted in my early twenties, and I have to say, it has evolved into something amazing over the years.
It certainly comes from a place of love.
I first came across a recipe for Italian pork ragu in a random discarded newspaper I was reading on my lunch break. It was one of those recipes that sounds so tantalizing your mouth automatically starts watering and you would give anything for a big bowl of whatever it is to just appear before you Genie-style right there and then.
It didn’t.
Unfortunately, no Genie was around to supply such things, and I wasn’t doing much cooking at that point in my life either.
In fact, I hadn’t even heard of the cut of meat they were using in the recipe, and we had just bought a new house so we had no money for fancy cuts of meat anyway. The little recipe was promptly clipped from the food section and sadly languished on my desk for a long time.
Fast forward a few years and I discovered that I actually quite liked cooking.
The pork ragu recipe became one that I made over and over again until it looked nothing like the original and turned into my signature dish when we had people over for a nice dinner…then I forgot about it for years again.
So I am sure you can imagine my sheer delight when I stumbled across my much-edited clipping and prepared a big heavenly pot last weekend. The kids gobbled up 3 bowls each, and my husband was super jealous when he discovered what we had been eating without him.
This version of slow-cooked minced pork ragu is nothing like the original found in that old dusty newspaper.
Here’s why:
- It doesn’t use crazy expensive ingredients found on the other side of town;
- there are no crazy cooking skills involved;
- and it doesn’t need to be reserved for special occasions;
- big plus: you can freeze the extra sauce to have a delicious meal on hand during a busy week.
This is your ‘everyday, everyman‘ ragu and it is quite the dish! I just hope you love it as much as we do.
Need more comfort food inspiration? Check these yummies out:
Baked Turkey Meatballs with Ricotta
Honey Ginger and Garlic Pork Meatballs
One Pan Za’atar Pork Tenderloin
Do you have a signature dish you have been perfecting over the years? I would love to hear all about it so be sure to leave a comment. Happy eating.
- 150 g bacon look for bacon free of sulfites/sulfates
- 1 large carrot diced
- 2 celery stalks diced
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 lb pork mince look for pasture raised where possible
- 1/2 cup dry red wine
- 20 g tomato paste
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup whole milk
- salt and pepper to taste
- pappardelle freshly cooked to serve
- parmesan finely grated to serve
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Fry bacon gently in a saucepan. Once cooked, add in the carrots, celery and onion and cook softly until slightly brown and the onion is translucent
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Add in the pork mince and stir constantly until browned
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Add in the wine, tomato paste and a little of the stock. Stir to combine
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Simmer for two hours, gradually adding in the remaining stock and milk during that time. Season to taste with salt and pepper
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To serve ladle a scoop of the meat mixture over some freshly cooked pasta and top with parmesan cheese
Sauce freezes well separately of the pasta. Make a double batch and freeze for a midweek meal.
Is pork mince just ground pork?
Yes it is! Sorry so many little different terminologies in different countries, hard to get them all 🙂
I can’t wait to try this. Is it really just 20 g of tomato paste? Or, should it be 200? Thank you!
Hi Chris, yep it’s just 20g, just to give it a wee hint of the tomato paste! Enjoy
This sounds simply amazing! I will be running to grab the ingredients to make this dish this week. Love it!
Love it, thank you!
I love a hearty ragu! This one looks so easy and delicious!
My kiddos love ragu! I will have to make this for them it sounds perfect for the little ones.
Yum!! making this as I type. Do you simmer covered or uncovered?
Hope you love it! I simmer uncovered.
Made this today and it was yummy – I dont how much difference simmering for 2hrs made? not sure its necessary? I will simmer till thick next time I make it and see how it goes.. Otherwise perfect EASY and tasty dinner that the kids gobbled down 🙂 Will make again!
Oh I am glad you liked it Lil, it is definitely a favorite with my kids! I find simmering for two hours really develops the flavors and makes it a lot richer, but I have definitely made a quicker version when in a hurry and it is still delicious 🙂
What a great family dinner!
🙂
This is one of my little boy’s favourite meals. It looks awesome!
My kids too 🙂 They always go for pasta don’t they!
Now this is my kind of pasta dish! Gorgeous simple flavours. Yum!
Thanks Elizabeth 🙂 Sometimes simple is best!
I love that this is made with real ingredients that aren’t too ridiculous to find. It looks like an amazing Sunday dinner!
Me too 🙂 I hate spending half the day looking for the ingredients for a dish!