The ultimate autumn comfort food: Rich pork and fennel ragu

Batch cook heaven! This weekend I dusted off the slow cooker and got busy with my first batch cook of the autumn, a rich and spicy pork and fennel ragu. This is always a big hit in our house - it’s flavoursome, hearty, easy to make, and the kitchen smells divine all day long.

I added a tablespoon of quince jelly for a hint of sweetness, but any fruit jelly or a little honey will work just as well.

Feeds 6 generously

3 tbsp olive oil
Pork shoulder joint, skin removed and seasoned all over with salt and pepper.
1 large onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, grated
1 generous tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp chilli flakes
1 tsp sweet smoked paprika
1 tbsp quince or fruit jelly
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
120ml rose or red wine
1 tin chopped tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato purée

Heat the oil over a medium-high heat, brown the pork all over, then set aside.

Turn the heat down and add the onion and garlic to the pan. Fry gently without burning for a few minutes until softened.

Add the herbs and spices and cook for 2 minutes.

Add the jelly and vinegar and stir until they have been absorbed into the sauce. Lastly, pour in the wine and tomatoes and add the tomato purée.

Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat and let it simmer for a few minutes.

Pour the sauce into the slow cooker and place the meat on top, pressing it down slightly so that it is nicely wedged into the sauce. Cook on high for 4 hours or slow for 6 until the pork is soft and melty, and you can easily pull it apart with a couple of forks. Break down the bigger pieces of pork until you have a chunky, uneven sauce (don’t pull all the pork completely as it’s nice to still have plenty of texture)

Serve with pasta, rice or wraps, or even as a pie filling. The ragu freezes well too, just make sure it’s completely cold before freezing.

If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can also cook this in a lidded casserole dish at 150 fan fan oven for approx 4 hours, stirring every hour. If it looks as if it’s getting a little dry, add a little water.