Slow Bolognese

Braised Beef: Part 1

1. Put all the ingredients in the first part of the recipe into a large pot, cover with water and bring to the boil, then cover with a lid and reduce the heat to a light simmer.
2. Check the meat every ten minutes and make sure the liquid doesn’t evaporate too much. The meat needs to be submerged in the liquid so top it up with water if need be.
3. After a couple of hours the meat should be tender and almost falling apart, if it isn’t keep cooking until it does.
4. Once the meat is ready remove the pot from the heat and all it to cool almost to room temperature.

For the sauce: Part 2

1. While the meat is cooling in its stock you can get the second stage of the sauce on the go. Put the garlic, onion, celery and four tablespoons of olive oil into a clean pot and cook over a gentle heat for about fifteen minutes so the vegetables are soft and without colour.
2. Remove the meat from the pot, put it into a bowl and set it aside. Strain the stock and left over vegetables into a clean pot, discard the vegetables.
3. Add in the tomato flesh and sauté gently until they start to break down a little and then splash in a little wine to the softened vegetables and once its evaporated pour the strained stock in with the cooking vegetables, turn up the heat and reduce the liquid so it’s the same volume as the cooked meat. Remove the pot from the heat
4. Tear the meat into little shreds and add it to the cooling sauce, splash in some extra virgin olive oil and allow it to cool completely.

To serve

1. Toss this amazing Bolognese with your choice of pasta and finish with the sage, parsley and a little freshly grated Parmesan. Season to taste and serve immediately.