Slow cooking is a great way to make delicious and nutritious meals for your family on a budget.
Whether it’s a simple casserole, soup or the Aussie family favourite, spaghetti bolognaise, you can take simple ingredients and inexpensive cuts of meat and turn them into a gourmet delight the whole family can enjoy.
The great news is that if you’re cooking with fresh ingredients and certified Australian EVOO – the tastiest and healthiest oil around – you can make your slow cooked dinners a healthy feast for your family.
Try this Australian family favourite, spaghetti bolognaise, for a heart healthy, nutritious and budget friendly week night dinner.
Ingredients
3 tbsp certified Australian EVOO
500 grams lean beef or veal mince
500 grams pork mince
1 brown onion finely chopped
5 cloves garlic diced
1 stalk celery finely chopped
1 carrot finely chopped
2 x 400ml cans of Australian diced tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
½ cup of Australian red wine (Shiraz is best)
1 tsp dried or fresh oregano
1 tsp dried or fresh rosemary
1 tsp dried or fresh basil
Sea salt
Cracked black pepper
500 grams dried wholemeal spaghetti
Fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Fresh basil leaves to serve
Method
Heat 2 tbsps of certified Australian EVOO on medium in a large heavy based pot and add onion, garlic, celery and carrot. Cook until tender. Add minced meat to the pot, and cook until browned. Add tomato paste, diced tomatoes, red wine, herbs and seasoning and simmer on low for 2-3 hours.
Once the sauce is cooked, boil salted water in a large pot and add spaghetti once boiling. Stir regularly until cooked through (as per packet instructions). Drain and drizzle with 1 tbsp of certified Australian EVOO before serving.
Top with fresh basil leaves and finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and serve with a glass of good quality Australian red wine.
To make sure your Australian EVOO is certified, check the bottle for the triangle certification symbol.