Casarecce with Wagu Bolognese

An easy meal for the whole family you can rely on week after week.

Scroll for ingredients & method.

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Ingredients for sauce

• Ingredients:

  • Casarecce

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon butter

  • 1 onion, finely chopped

  • 2 carrots, finely chopped

  • 2 celery stalks, finely chopped

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 150g pancetta 

  • 500g ground beef 

  • 500g ground pork

  • 1 cup red wine

  • 2 tbsp tomato paste

  • 1 can crushed tomatoes

  • 500ml chicken broth

  • 1/4 cup heavy cream (optional)

  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

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Instructions:

1. Brown the Meat:
   Dice and add the pancetta to a large pot or dutch oven, render and brown off before removing, add the ground beef and ground pork to the skillet. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon and cook until it's browned and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. You want it caramelized.

2. Sauté the Vegetables:
   In the same pot, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté until the vegetables are softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Add the tomato paste and let it fry off in the oil.

3. Deglaze the Pan:
   If using wine, pour it into the spot and stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it simmer for a few minutes until most of the wine has evaporated.

4. Add Tomatoes and Broth:
   Stir in the crushed tomatoes, and beef or chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer.

5. Season and Simmer:
   Reduce the heat to low, cover partially with a lid, and let the sauce simmer gently for at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally. The longer it simmers, the more flavorful it will become.

6. Finish the Sauce:
   Stir in the heavy cream during the last few minutes of cooking to add richness to the sauce.

7. Serve:
   Add the casarecce to boiling and seasoned water for 4-5 minutes. In a separate pan, place a generous scoop of the sauce. Take a spoonful or two of the pasta water and reduce the sauce until glossy. Add the pasta in and combine. Then place in a bowl and cover in parmesan to enjoy.