This silky, slow-cooked lamb ragù is the perfect winter comfort food. The sauce is braised with the lamb in the oven, and is a great one to assemble in advance and then enjoy the next day, or even freeze in batches. Pangrattato is a crispy Italian breadcrumb topping, and makes a great fresh and crunchy contrast to the rich ragù.
Preheat the oven to 150°C fan
Heat a large casserole dish over a medium-high heat with a dash of oil. Season the lamb, then sear in batches until evenly browned on all sides. Remove and set aside
Lower the heat, then add the onion, carrot and celery and cook for 8-10 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic, then add the tomato purée and cook for 2-3 minutes until it darkens slightly
Deglaze with the wine, then pour in the stock and tomatoes. Add the rosemary and thyme, then return the lamb to the pot and bring to a simmer
Cover and cook in the oven for 3 hours, or until the lamb is tender. Once cooked, remove the herbs, gently break the lamb into the sauce and simmer on the hob for a few minutes to thicken if needed. Season to taste
For the pangrattato, melt the butter in a pan, then add the panko and toast until golden. Remove from the heat, then stir in the chopped mint, garlic and lemon zest
Cook the pappardelle according to the packet instructions. Drain then toss together the pasta and ragù, adding a little of the pasta cooking water to help bind the two together, then divide between bowls and finish with the mint pangrattato
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