Slow-cooker Beef Ragu with Penne

Serves : 6

Comments: This recipe is adapted from one from "Martha Stewart Living". It should be obvious from the title, but you need a slow-cooker for this.

 

Ingredients:

  • 3 pounds beef rump roast
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 3 medium onions, halved lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
  • 1 pound cremini mushrooms, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
  • 3 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves
  • 2 cups dry red wine
  • 1 can (28 ounces) whole peeled plum tomatoes with juice
  • 5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
  • 1 pound penne
  • Shaved Parmesan cheese, for garnish

Instructions:

Season beef all over with salt and pepper. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a large saute pan oven over high heat. Add beef, and brown on all sides. Transfer beef to a slow-cooker. Reduce heat to medium. Add onions, and cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until onions are translucent and edges are browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer onions to the slow-cooker. Add remaining tablespoon oil to pan, and then add the mushrooms, oregano, and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, 3 minutes, until mushrooms release their water. Transfer mushrooms to the slow-cooker. Quickly deglaze the pan with the wine, stirring up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Pour the wine into the slow-cooker, and then add the tomatoes, garlic, and red pepper flakes to the slow-cooker, breaking up the tomatoes with a spoon or by crushing them with your bare hands. Cover the slow-cooker and cook on low for 8 hours or until the meat is fork-tender.

When meat is done, remove it from sauce onto a cutting board. Shred the meat using 2 forks.

If the sauce left in the slow cooker seems oily, put it through a gravy decanter to pour off the oil. At this point you can also boil the sauce down on the stove a bit if you want to thicken it up.

Cook penne according to directions and toss with sauce. Transfer pasta to individual serving bowls, top with the shredded beef, and garnish with Parmesan. Serve immediately.