Beef Mince Ragu

• 1 medium leek
• 2 small onion, chopped
• 2 medium carrots
• 2 stick celery
• 1 star anise
• 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 400 grams minced beef
• 4 clove garlic
• 2 tbsp worcestershire sauce
• 3 stalk rosemary
• 1 tsp mixed herbs
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 250 ml red wine
• 1 tbsp flour
• 1 beef stock cube
• 1 cup red lentils
• 4 piece smoked streaky bacon
• 1 can chopped italian tomatoes
• 1 can plum tomatoes
• ml boiling water
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 tsp black pepper

1. Brown the mince thoroughly over a high heat in olive oil.
2. The mince should be really dark, broken up and crispy (caramelised).
3. It is likely to take upwards of 15 minutes on a high heat.
4. The water will all need to be released first and evaporate- leaving a dry mince mixture which will brown properly.
5. Set aside when browned
6. Chop the bacon and fry in the olive oil until they start to look brown and crispy and the fat is released to the pan.
7. Dice all sofrito ingredients (except star anise)
8. Add the sofrito to the pan with a big pinch of salt.The star anise should be added as the onions start to soften.
9. Add the garlic and pepper when the sofrito is soft and stir for a minute
10. Add the herbs and stir in
11. Make some space in the pan and add the tomato paste.
12. Cook for a minute before stirring into the other ingredients.
13. Add the Worcestershire sauce and stir in
14. Crumble in the stock cube
15. Add the flour, stir in to combine and cook for a minute
16. Add the lentils
17. Add the wine.
18. Increase heat of necessary to reduce wine by at least two thirds
19. Add the tomatoes and enough boiling water to fully cover the mixture
20. Simmer for an hour or so until thick - not watery and delicious.
21. Adjust seasoning if required
22. Serve with fresh egg tagliatelle and parmesan

leek, onion, carrots, celery, anise, olive oil, olive oil, beef, clove garlic, worcestershire sauce, rosemary, mixed herbs, tomato, red wine, flour, beef, red lentils, bacon, italian tomatoes, tomatoes, boiling water, salt, black pepper

Taken from cookpad.com/us/recipes/359678-beef-mince-ragu (may not work)