Easy Peasy HEALTHY Bolognese (Meat Sauce) - A Ragu you can do!

Well, its Sunday and that means one thing in an Italian household – TIME TO MAKE THE GRAVY!  Those of you who are not Italian, “gravy” translates to “tomato sauce”.  Today though, I am making an easy, peasy, HEALTHIER bolognese, or meat sauce.  

Normally, Bolognese is made in a saute pan ( a high sided fry pan like thing) and you have to let it sit, and babysit it, for like EVER.  And A. who has time for that and B. you can't leave the house with the stove on.  Plus full fat meats mean calories and cholesterol – who needs any of that?!  Well, this little Singing Tomato has come up with a FABU Ragu for you!

Get out that crockpot / slow cooker and spray it up (see crockpot tip #1).

Ingredients list:

• 1/4C EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
• 1lb – ground turkey (lean as you can find)
• 1lb – ground sirloin or super lean ground beef
• 1 large can crushed tomatoes
• 1 small can tomato paste
• 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatos
• 1 HEAPING teaspoon minced garlic (from the jar is ok with me but don't tell Auntie M!)
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
• 1 carrot peeled and finely chopped to near mincing

It don't look pretty in pieces but once mixed together and slow cooked for 8hrs - OMG! SO YUMMY!

Tools that might help:

• measuring cups and spoons
• chopper – I HEART Pampered Chef and especially my chopper from them but if you have a similar brand or a good old fashions sharp chopping knife – that will do just fine – just watch your fingers!
• peeler
• knife
• wooden spoon
• of course your crock pot!

Instructions:

Put everything into the crockpot in the above listed order.  Stir everything together with the wooden spoon.  Cover your pot and cook on low for 8-9hrs.  Then enjoy your wonderful, yummy, Bolognese over your favorite pasta or in a lasagna or ziti!

Saucy Notes:

You will note unlike other tomato sauce-esque recipes I do not call for sugar in my sauce.  I am trying to avoid refined sugars – in this case you're going to use the carrot to create the sweetness needed without the sugar.  Also, this will make about 5 dinner's worth of sauce or 5 pints.  Make sure if you don't already have them to go get some plasticware to store your cooked sauce in – pint sizes should do.  You can then freeze it for later use during the week.

Other benefit – your house will smell like an Italian granny lives there!  Brings me back to our Sunday dinners with my whole extended family!  Mangi!

Here it is all done and ready for topping some al dente pasta!

Based on my WW recipe builder this (w/o pasta) is about 3pps.

Have questions?  Tried this recipe and loved it – leave me a comment to let me know!