Slow cooked beef ragu with creamy polenta
Ingredients
- 1.8 kg Gravy Beef
- 5 slices – 6Pancetta chopped, or 4bacon
- 1 large onion chopped
- 2 ribs celery chopped
- 2 carrots chopped
- 6-8 cloves garlic thin sliced
- 2 cups dry red wine
- 600 g tin whole tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried Rosemary crushed (or 1 stalk fresh Rosemary)
- teaspoon ½dried Oregano
- 2 stalks fresh Thyme
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian Parsley
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Sea salt
Creamy Parmesan Polenta
- 1/2 cup quick cook polenta
- 3 cups milk
- 2 tablespoons fresh grated parmesan
- Season with salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Season the meat with salt and pepper on all sides and preheat the oven to 180C.
- In an oven proof pot or casserole dish on medium high heat brown the steak on all sides with a little olive oil. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Turn the heat to medium and add the chopped pancetta. Brown the pancetta until crisp and then add the onion, celery and carrots. Cook the veggies until soft and translucent, and then add the garlic. Cook for another few miutes.
- Sprinkle the veggies with the teaspoon of pepper and then add the wine, scraping the browned bits off the bottom of the pot. Let the wine simmer for a minute or two and stir in the tomatoes.
- Add the dried and fresh herbs and combine with the veggie mixture. Let the mixture come to a slow boil and then place the beef back into the pot.
- Turn off the stove top, put the lid on the pot and place the pot in the preheated oven. Cook for about 4-5 hours in the oven until the beef falls apart. Check for seasoning, adding the teaspoon salt if needed.
- Serve over a Creamy Parmesan Polenta and enjoy!
To make the polenta
- In a medium pot heat the milk on medium. Stir every once and a while so the milk won’t burn on the bottom. When the milk comes to a slow boil, add the polenta and stir.
- Continue stirring the polenta until it thickens to a heavy creamy texture. Take it off the heat and add the parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.