Lambragout Recipes

LAMB RAGOUT

Steps:

• Heat oil and butter and brown lamb over high heat.
• Add garlic and rosemary, stir for 30 seconds.
• Add wine and stir, mix in beef broth and tomato puree.
• Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour.
• Remove cover,increase heat to medium high and cook until sauce begins to thicken.
• Add tomatoes and olives and cook 5 minutes.
• Stir in parsley and serve.

LAMB RAGOUT

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, cook the bacon over low heat for about 10 minutes, until the fat is rendered and the bacon is crisp. Drain the bacon on paper towels, crumble and reserve. Turn up the heat. Working in batches, so as not to crowd the pan, brown the lamb about 5 minutes per side. As each batch is done, set it aside in a bowl.
• Add the onion, carrots and celery to pan. Cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften. Return the lamb to the pan with the bacon. Add the tomatoes, 2 tablespoons sage, the thyme, bay leaves and chicken broth. Simmer very gently, stirring occasionally, for 1 1/2 hours. Season with salt and lots of pepper.
• Combine the parsley, orange rind, lemon rind and 2 tablespoons sage. Stir 3 tablespoons of this mixture into the ragout. Let sit for 5 minutes. Pass the remaining parsley mixture at the table. Serve with polenta, pasta or rice.

LAMB RAGU WITH MINT

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet warm the olive oil over high heat. Add the shallots and the garlic and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Add the ground lamb, salt, and pepper. Cook until the lamb has browned and the juices have evaporated. Add the wine, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan using a wooden spoon. Simmer until the wine has reduced by half. Add the marinara sauce and simmer over low heat until the flavors have blended, about 10 minutes. Add the mint and ricotta and stir until mixed. Add the pasta and stir to coat. Serve immediately.

LAMB RAGOUT

Steps:

• Toss lamb with flour in a small bowl. Heat olive oil in a deep, wide skillet or Dutch oven set over high heat. Add lamb, spreading it out to cover the surface of the pan. Don't stir for about 5 minutes, so you can develop a rich brown color on the lamb. Add garlic, stir and cook about 5 minutes more, stirring if it appears the lamb or garlic may burn. Add tomato paste, chicken broth, salt, pepper, and thyme. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 20 minutes. Remove cover and add carrots. Replace the cover ajar so that some of the steam can escape. Simmer 20 minutes more. Season with salt, if needed. Serve over cooked rice or noodles.

QUICK LAMB RAGù

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add onions and garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have become translucent and have totally softened, 5 to 8 minutes. Add a pinch of red-pepper flakes and anchovies, if using, and cook for a minute or two, just to toast the spices and melt the anchovies.
• Add tomato paste and continue to cook, stirring occasionally so it has a chance to stick to the bottom of the pot and caramelize a bit, 2 or 3 minutes.
• Add lamb and season with salt and pepper. Using a wooden spoon or a spatula, stir lamb until the fat starts to soften and the meat begins to break down. Continue to cook, stirring rather frequently until the lamb begins to brown and sizzle in its own fat, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add crushed tomatoes, stirring to scrape up any bits on the bottom of the pot. Fill the tomato can halfway with water and swirl around to get all the remaining tomato, then add to the pot. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook until sauce is thickened and insanely flavorful, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Serve sauce mixed into and over pasta with plenty of cheese for grating over the top, scattered with a small handful of marjoram, oregano or thyme leaves if you like.