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Lamb ragù

By: Louise Pickford

Published: 23 Feb 24
Updated: 25 Mar 24

Slow-cooked lamb shoulder makes the perfect base for a rich and meaty sauce for pasta. It can be made a couple of days ahead, letting the flavours meld. The boned shoulder is cooked as a whole piece, then shredded into the rich sauce.

Loved this? Try our roast lamb shoulder with rice pilaf next.

Easy
March 2024

Test kitchen approved

Serves 6
Hands-on time 50 min, plus overnight chilling. Simmering time 3 hours

Loved this? Try our roast lamb shoulder with rice pilaf next.

Nutrition: Per serving (ragù only)

Calories: 537kcals
Fat: 38g (15g saturated)
Protein: 32g
Carbohydrates: 9.1g (7.7g sugars)
Fibre: 2.7g
Salt: 1.2g

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Ingredients

1kg boneless lamb shoulder
3 tbsp olive oil
2 onions, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tbsp chopped rosemary leaves
150ml red wine
400ml passata
1 tsp caster sugar
2 bay leaves
75g green pitted olives
4 tbsp capers, drained and rinsed
3 tbsp chopped parsley
Pasta and grated parmesan to serve (optional)

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Method

Put the lamb in a bowl and rub all over with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large casserole, then add the lamb. Fry over a high heat for 5 minutes, turning halfway until browned all over. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
Turn the heat to low. Add the onions, garlic, rosemary and a little salt and pepper, fry for 10 minutes until softened and golden, then pour in the wine. Bring to the boil for 1 minute, then add the passata and sugar.
Return the lamb to the pan along with the bay leaves and bring back to the boil. Cover the pan and simmer gently over a very low heat for 3 hours, stirring occasionally, until the meat is very tender. Leave to cool, then put in the fridge overnight.

Remove the ragù from the fridge and scrape off and discard any excess fat, which should have risen to the top and set solid. Put the pan over a low heat to warm through until the sauce loosens, then use 2 forks to pull the meat apart into thin shreds, using scissors to cut through any tough bits. Discard the bay leaves along with any large chunks of fat or gristle.
Stir in the olives, capers and parsley (see Make Ahead) and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes until hot throughout. Serve with your favourite pasta, topped with some grated parmesan, if you like.