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Pork Ragu
This pork ragu is a deeply satisfying, rich, and hearty sauce that comes together in under 30 minutes. Made with pork mince, tomatoes, red wine, and a touch of cinnamon, it delivers layers of flavour that develop beautifully as it simmers. Serve it over pasta, spoon it onto baked potatoes, or enjoy it with a fresh salad for a comforting and versatile meal.
Variety for health
This Pork Ragu is a delicious variation to the typical spaghetti bolognese. This flavour combination is lovely with turkey mince too. I try to rotate the various types of protein we eat each week as each protein source is unique nutritionally. Because protein is comprised of up to 20 different amino acids, each source contains a different amino acid profile (which either has some or all of those amino acids in different proportions). When we digest protein, our body absorbs the amino acids and uses them to build and repair tissue, support a healthy immune system and metabolism and regulate gene expression. So by rotating our sources of protein, we ensure our bodies are able to function optimally.
Health benefits
Pork is a great source of high-quality protein and essential nutrients like iron, zinc, and B vitamins, which support energy levels and immune function. Tomatoes provide a powerful dose of lycopene, a potent antioxidant that promotes heart health, while fennel and carrots add fibre and gut-friendly nutrients. The olive oil and fresh herbs contribute healthy fats and anti-inflammatory properties, making this dish as nourishing as it is delicious.
Ingredients
This ragu is built on a delicious base of pork mince, onion, cloves garlic, sprigs of thyme, balanced with the sweetness of carrots and fennel. Tomatoes, broth, and a splash of red wine create a rich and luscious sauce, while fresh thyme and a hint of cinnamon add warmth and depth. Served with pasta and finished with fresh parsley and parmesan, this dish is pure comfort food.
How to make Pork Ragu
Start by sautรฉing onion in olive oil until softened, then add the pork mince and garlic, cooking until browned. Stir in diced carrots, fennel, thyme, and chilli, then deglaze the pan with red wine. Add stock, tomatoes, tomato paste, and cinnamon, and let it braise until thickened. Meanwhile, cook the pasta until al dente, then toss it through the sauce. Finish with fresh parsley and parmesan for extra flavour.
Serving suggestions and how to store
This pork ragu is best served over tagliatelle, pappardelle pasta, or your favourite pasta, but itโs equally delicious spooned over baked potatoes or vegetable noodles or even polenta. Pair it with a simple green salad or roasted vegetables for a complete meal. Leftovers store well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days or in the freezer for longer, making it a great option for meal prep.
Vary this to suit your dietary needs
For a gluten-free option, serve with gluten-free pasta or zucchini noodles. If youโre dairy-free, simply skip the parmesan or use a dairy-free alternative. To make it alcohol-free, replace the wine with extra broth and a splash of balsamic vinegar. For a grain-free version, serve over roasted potatoes or wedges instead of pasta.
Pork Ragu
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 onion/s โ finely diced
- 600 g free-range pork mince
- 3 clove/s garlic โ finely diced
- 2 carrot/s โ finely diced
- 1 bulb/s fennel โ small & finely diced (optional if in season)
- 1 red chilli/s โ seeds removed & finely diced
- ยผ bunch/s fresh thyme leaves – leaves stripped from stems and chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
- 120 ml red wine (ยฝ cup)
- 250 ml stock or broth (1 cup)
- 400 g diced tinned tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- ยฝ tsp ground cinnamon
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper – to taste
- 300 g pasta – of your choice, Iโve used tagliatelle
To Serve
- ยผ bunch/s fresh parsley leaves – chopped
- 50 g parmesan cheese โ grated & optional
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large stainless steel pan over a medium high heat.
- Add the onion and saute until it starts to soften (but not brown).
- Add the pork mince and garlic and saute until it is cooked through.
- Add the carrots, fennel, chilli, thyme, wine, broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, cinnamon and seasoning and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to the boil and add a pinch of sea salt. Cook the pasta to al dente.
- Once the pasta and sauce is cooked, drain the pasta and add to the sauce.
- Serve with the parsley and optional parmesan cheese.
Serve
- With salad
Make-ahead
- Make the sauce ahead and toss through the pasta to serve.
- Re-heat in a pot over a low heat until just hot.
Store
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
Notes
Gluten-free
Serve with a gluten-free pasta or spiralized vegetables.Dairy-free
Omit the cheese to serve.Alcohol free
Replace with more broth and a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar.Grain-free
This is also lovely served over baked potatoes or wedges.Onion-free
Leave out but include the fennel.Garlic-free
Omit or replace with garlic oil if itโs tolerated.Make your own pasta
If you have the time, making your own pasta is fun and gives an extra special level of deliciousness! Click HERE for the recipe! ย ย ยI love this quick and easy pasta sauce and I hope you enjoy too, let me know in the comments below.
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Vegan Chocolate Muffins
These easy to make delicious Vegan Chocolate Muffins have been developed by request from a Well Nourished Family member. My kids have been very happy with the testing of these. My son even complained when I’d finished testing saying I had to promise I would come back to them.
Perfect for lunchboxes, picnics, parties or any other time that calls for a sweet treat, these are quick to prepare and use all common pantry ingredients.
Health benefits
These vegan muffins are a treat that’s also relatively nutritious, offering fibre from the spelt flour and coconut sugar, which has a lower glycemic index compared to regular sugar. The cacao powder is packed with antioxidants, and the addition of coconut oil provides healthy fats, making these muffins a better alternative to most bakery-style muffins.
Ingredients
The ingredients for this vegan muffin recipe include your choice of plant based milk (almond milk, oat milk, soy milk or cow if you are not vegan), apple cider vinegar, white spelt flour, coconut sugar, cacao powder (or unsweetened cocoa powder), bicarbonate of soda (baking soda), baking powder, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, and hot water or coffee. The coffee adds a ‘richer’ chocolate flavour profile if making for adults.
How to make these vegan chocolate muffins
Preheat the oven and line a muffin tray with cases. In a jug, mix the milk and apple cider vinegar and set aside. Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl, then add the oil and vanilla to the milk mixture and pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients. Add hot water or coffee and stir or whisk until just combined. Spoon the batter into the muffin pan lined with muffin cases and bake for 15-20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. You donโt want to overcook these as they can start to crumble. Have a look at the 15-minute mark, then check again every minute or so until theyโre just right.
Serving suggestions and how to store
Enjoy warm from the oven or once cooled. These muffins store well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or can be refrigerated for a longer shelf life. They can also be stored in the freezer for up to a month.
Vary these Vegan chocolate muffins to suit your dietary needs
For a gluten-free version, replace the spelt flour with an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend or almond meal mixed with arrowroot or tapioca flour. To make them extra indulgent vegan double chocolate muffins, fold in dairy-free dark chocolate chips or add a square of chocolate on top before baking.
You can also make this into a whole vegan chocolate cake if you prefer. You will need to bake for 5-10 minutes longer or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.
For more healthy lunchbox recipes, click HERE. Or for more healthy baked sweet treats, click HERE.
Vegan Chocolate Muffins
Ingredients
- 120 ml milk (of choice) (ยฝ cup)
- 1ยฝ tbsp apple cider vinegar – or any vinegar
- 180 g whiteย speltย flour (1ยฝ cups)
- 120 g coconut sugar (โ cup)
- 40 g cacao powder (ยฝ cup)
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 80 g coconut oil (โ cup) melted (or macadamia nut oil)
- 1 tbsp vanilla essence
- 120 ml hot water โ or hot coffee for an adult twist
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180ยฐC/350ยฐF (fan-forced) and line a muffin tray with patty cases or baking paper.
- In a small jug, mix the milk and apple cider vinegar and allow to sit while you mix the dry ingredients. If you're using a Thermomix 5 seconds, speed 5.
- In a mixing bowl combine the flour, coconut sugar, cacao powder, bicarb and baking powder. Whisk together until there are no lumpy bits. (I usually just sit a regular mixing bowl on the Thermomix to weigh the dry ingredients).
- Add the oil and vanilla to the milk and mix, then pour over the dry.
- Add the hot water (or hot coffee) and then whisk to just combine. If you're using a Thermomix 10 seconds, speed 3 (scraping the sides).
- Spoon into patty cases or the lined muffin tray.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
- To avoid crumbling, itโs important not to overcook them. Check at 15 minutes, then continue checking every minute or two until theyโre just cooked through.
- Cool on a wire cooling rack.
Tip
- If youโre out of muffin cases you can make your own parchment paper liners. Cut 15cm x 15cm squares of parchment paper. Place the paper over an upside-down cup and create a fold at four corners to create a โtulipโ shaped muffin case. Press on the base to create a good crease and then place it into your muffin tin. Repeat until the number of desired muffin cases are created โ quick and inexpensive!
Ice them
- THIS chocolate mousseย also makes a fabulous chocolate ganache for icing cakes, either just the mousse part or also drizzled with the raspberry sauce.ย
Notes
Gluten-free
Replace with an all-purpose gluten-free flour or almond meal plus 2 tbs of arrowroot or tapioca flour. If the mixture is stiff (I find this with some GF pre-mix flours) add 30-40ml more hot water.Vegan Chocolate Chip Muffins
Fold in chocolate buttons or pieces (regular or dairy-free if required) or even pop a square of chocolate on top. ย ย ย ยI hope you love these muffins as much as my family did, let me know in the comments below.
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Farmhouse Lasagne
This Farmhouse Lasagne is not a quick meal to make but it does my family two good sized serves so that means I get a night off coking which is always a good thing! It’s is a hearty, nourishing meal perfect for feeding a crowd or making ahead for easy weeknight dinners. Packed with layers of rich, delicious meat and vegetable sauce and creamy bรฉchamel, itโs a comforting classic thatโs sure to be a family favourite.
Using the Thermomix or a food processor to do the grating and chopping is a huge time saver for this recipe. This is very versatile so feel free to switch up any of the veggies, or you could even sub the mince for chicken or turkey.
Health benefits
Unlike store-bought versions, this homemade lasagne is free from preservatives, additives and damaging vegetable oils. By using high-quality meats, veggies, and homemade sauces, youโre getting a really nutrient-dense meal filled with protein, vitamins, and healthy fats. Plus, by swapping out processed sauces with homemade options, you avoid unnecessary sugars and artificial ingredients, making it a much healthier alternative.
Ingredients
This easy lasagne combines simple, wholesome ingredients like ground beef mince, pork mince, a variety of fresh veggies, rich tomato passata, and a creamy bรฉchamel made with wholemeal spelt flour. Itโs a recipe that sticks to whole foods while delivering incredible flavour and texture. You only need to check out the comments below to see this is the best lasagna recipe!
How to make this farmhouse lasagne
To make this classic lasagne recipe, in a large pot or large skillet, saute the garlic, onion, and celery until soft, then add the pork and beef mince and cook until browned. Add the herbs, wine, veggies, stock, and tomato passata, and let it simmer to develop rich flavours. While the meat sauce is simmering, prepare your creamy bรฉchamel sauce. Once both are ready, take a baking dish and layer the lasagna noodles with the meat sauce and bรฉchamel, topping it off with extra cheese (cheddar or parmesan cheese). Bake until golden and bubbly, and enjoy! If you own a Thermomix, we’ve also included Thermomix instructions for this recipe.
Serving suggestions and how to store
Serve your lasagne with a fresh side salad or steamed veggies for a balanced meal. This dish is perfect for meal preppingโit can be stored in the fridge for up to three days or store in the freezer for a quick and easy dinner later. Just reheat in the oven until heated through. If I’m cooking this for two separate meals I assemble the lasagne in two dishes – one casserole dish to eat that night, and a rectangular pyrex or glass lock that I can cook it in, allow to cool, pop the lid on and freeze for another day. Thaw in the fridge, remove the lid and reheat in a moderate oven. If the top browns too much you can cover with baking paper then aluminum foil.
Vary this farmhouse lasagne to suit your dietary needs
You can easily adapt this farmhouse lasagne to suit different dietary needs. For a gluten-free version, swap the lasagne sheets for gluten-free ones and use a mix of buckwheat and rice flour in the bรฉchamel. For a dairy-free option, try a cauliflower-based sauce with nutritional yeast for that cheesy flavour. You can also reduce the meat by substituting pork with cooked lentils for a plant-based boost.
Take a look at the variations below the main recipes to adjust the recipe to suit your dietary requirements and taste.
For more delicious, easy to make healthy lasagne recipes, click HERE.
Farmhouse Lasagne
Ingredients
- 60 ml extra virgin olive oil
- 4 clove/s garlic โ minced
- 2 onion/s โ diced
- 3 stick/s celery โ finely diced
- 500 g free-range pork mince
- 1000 g beef mince
- 1 tsp dried thyme – or (1 tbsp) fresh
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary leaves – or (1 tsp) dried
- 2 bay leaves
- 125 ml red wine
- 150 g mushrooms – roughly diced
- 2 carrot/s – large, finely diced
- 1 zucchini/s – large, finely diced
- 250 ml chicken broth or stock (can also use beef)
- 680 g tomato passata (puree)
- 1 tsp sea salt – or to taste
- ground black pepper – to taste
- 700 g lasagne sheets – approx.
Bรฉchamel
- 150 g cheddar cheese โ or parmesan
- 40 g butter
- 50 g wholemealย speltย flour
- 200 ml chicken broth or stock
- 200 ml milk (of choice)
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper โ to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pan and add the garlic, onion and celery. Saute over a moderated heat with the lid on for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. You want to sweat the veggies, not brown them.
- Add the pork and beef mince and continue to cook, stirring until cooked through and most of the liquid has gone.
- Add the herbs.
- Turn the heat to high and add the red wine so it sizzles and reduces.
- Add the mushrooms, carrot, zucchini, broth, passata and seasoning.
- Reduce to a simmer for 1 hour with the lid slightly ajar.
- Meanwhile grate the cheese and make the bechemel.
- Melt the butter in a small pot. Add the flour and mix to combine to a paste.
- Now gradually add the milk and stock or broth, stirring as you go. I usually add about a ยผ cup at a time and once it heats and thickens, add more. Be patient here. Mix in about quarter of the cheese once the sauce has thickened nicely.
- Set aside until the meat sauce has cooked. When meat has approximately 10 minutes to go, preheat your oven to 180ยฐC/350ยฐF (fan-forced).
- To assemble, alternate layers of the meat and lasagne sheets finishing with a layer of the bechamel and the remaining cheese.
- I always assemble this into two baking dishes, bake and then keep one for another night or to freeze.
- Bake for 20 – 40 minutes or until the lasagne is cooked through. Fresh pasta cooks quickly, dried sheets will take longer (and the time will vary a lot between brands so check your sheets feel soft when cut before serving).
Thermomix
- Chop the garlic, 5 seconds, speed 5. Next chop the celery and onion, 10 seconds, speed 4.
- Heat the oil in a large pan and add the garlic, celery and onion. Saute over a moderated heat with the lid on for 10 mins, stirring occasionally. You want to sweat the veggies, not brown them.
- Add the pork and beef mince and continue to cook, stirring until almost cooked through and most of the liquid has gone.
- Add the herbs.
- Turn the heat to high and add the red wine so it sizzles and reduces.
- Chop the mushrooms, 3 seconds, speed 4. Chop the carrot and zucchini, 5 seconds speed 4.
- Then add the rest of the ingredients to the pan, stir and reduce to a simmer for 1 hour with the lid ajar. When meat has approximately 10 minutes to go, preheat your oven to 180ยฐC/350ยฐF (fan-forced).
- Rinse the Thermomix, dry with a paper towel, and make the bechemel.
- Grate the cheese, 10 seconds, speed 6 and set aside.
- Add the butter, flour, broth and milk into the bowl and cook, 10 minutes, 90, speed 4, MC on.
- Once the bechamel has thickened, season with a pinch of salt and a grind of black pepper and mix in a quarter of the cheese. Thermomix, 10 seconds, speed 5.
- To assemble, alternate layers of the meat and lasagne sheets finishing with a layer of the bechamel and the remaining cheese.
- Bake for 30 – 45 minutes or until the lasagne is cooked through.



