FINDING TIME TO cook a wholesome, tasty dish midweek can be challenging. This is where slow cooking comes in handy. There’s minimal prep time involved, delicious results, and while everything is cooking, you can go about your day.
Slow cooking is also ideal for batch cooking, so taking some time on a Sunday to prepare a few portions for dinner over the coming weeks will pay off.
“Long and slow”, is what many chefs reiterate when it comes to cooking certain cuts of meat, especially some of the cheaper cuts, as the fats have time to melt down and contribute to a beautiful, rich flavour.
And you don’t necessarily need to have a slow cooker to reap the benefits of the long and slow method of cooking, as most slow cooker recipes can be easily adapted to cook in the oven at a low heat. We’ve picked six hearty slow-cooked recipes to give you some inspiration for the week ahead.
1. Braised Blade Steak Casserole, from The Busy Mamas: Blade steaks are a relatively cheap cut of beef, and ideal for slow cooking. You could easily adapt this recipe by adding in some extra vegetables, or a pinch of paprika if you like some spice.
2. BBQ Pulled Pork, from A Dash of Ginger: Slow cooked until it’s falling apart, yet still deliciously moist, this recipe requires little else in terms of sides- just pile it on top of a brioche bap or crusty roll and you’re good to go!
3. Slow Cooker Beef Curry, from Natural Born Feeder: Melt in the mouth beef in a creamy sauce is the result from this effortless curry recipe from Natural Born Feeder. Make double and freeze it in batches to enjoy later.
4. Hunter’s Chicken, from Catch a Single Thought: Chicken wrapped in bacon and braised in a BBQ sauce- these flavours are a match made in heaven! Serve with a luxurious mash and greens for a relaxed dinner party.
5. Lamb Tagine, from Wholesome Ireland: Packed with fragrant spices like cumin, paprika and ginger, and sweet apricots, a tagine is a flavoursome one-pot that the whole family would enjoy. Serve with couscous, pitta bread and a spoonful of natural yogurt.
6. Beef and Carrot Stew, from Madeleine Shaw: Perfect for kids, this wholesome stew by Madeleine Shaw is packed with nutrients. This stew needs nothing else in terms of sides so it really is the ideal fuss-free family meal.
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