Best Lamb Fennel Spaghetti Bolognese Recipes

BAKED RIGATONI WITH LAMB RAGù

Baked Rigatoni with Lamb Ragù image

"We're all a little cranky these days because it's cold, it gets dark early, and we've been dealing with the stress of the virus for nearly a year. Fortunately, because I have been stuck at home, I've had more time to cook than ever, and that never fails to make me feel better. Plus, I end up with a good homemade dinner, and so does everyone (Jeffrey!) around me. When people ask me about my favorite comfort food, I have a hard time deciding between a big bowl of satisfying stew and a pan of cheesy baked pasta. With this Baked Rigatoni with Lamb Ragù, I don't have to choose! First, I make a rich lamb ragù, which is just like a stew: I sauté onions, carrots and fennel, then add ground lamb, tomatoes, lots of garlic and almost an entire bottle of earthy red wine. As it simmers away on the stove for 40 minutes, the whole house smells amazing and everything starts to look up! Then I cook the rigatoni until it's al dente, drain it and toss it with the lamb ragù, lots of fresh mozzarella and some eggs and cream to hold it together. I top it with Parmesan and mozzarella and bake it until it's hot and bubbly, and the top is browned and crusty. I dare anyone to still be cranky after having this for dinner!" says Ina.

Provided by Ina Garten

Categories main-dish

Time 2h

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

Ingredients

3 tablespoons good olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion (1 large)
2 cups (1/2-inch) diced carrots (3 large)
2 cups (1/2-inch) diced fennel, cored (1 medium)
1 pound ground lamb
1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
1 tablespoon whole fennel seeds, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, such as San Marzano
2 1/2 cups dry red wine, such as Chianti or Côtes du Rhône, divided
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed with your hands
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound rigatoni, such as De Cecco
2 extra-large eggs
2/3 cup heavy cream
1 pound fresh salted mozzarella, divided
1/2 cup freshly grated Italian Parmesan cheese

Steps:

Heat the olive oil in a medium (10- to 11-inch) heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset, over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots and fennel and sauté for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to brown. Add the lamb, garlic and fennel seeds and cook for 8 minutes, breaking up the lamb with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink. Stir in the tomato paste, tomatoes, 2 cups of the wine, the oregano, red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer, partly covered, for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Off the heat, stir in the remaining 1/2 cup of red wine.
Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add 2 tablespoons salt and the rigatoni and cook according to the directions on the package, until barely al dente. Drain.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and cream. Add the rigatoni and toss well. Grate half of the mozzarella on a box grater and add it to the rigatoni mixture. Add the lamb mixture, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper and toss well.
Transfer to a 10-by-14-by-2-inch baking dish and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Slice the remaining mozzarella and arrange it on top. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the sauce is hot and bubbling and some of the pasta is crusty on top. Serve hot.

SPICY LAMB BOLOGNESE

Spicy Lamb Bolognese image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Categories main-dish

Time 3h

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 28

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for serving
1 carrot, peeled and finely chopped
1 stalk celery, finely chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
Kosher salt
12 ounces ground beef chuck
12 ounces ground lamb
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 teaspoon Calabrian chili paste
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 cup whole milk
1 cup dry red wine, such as Chianti
1 bay leaf
One 3-inch Parmesan rind plus 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan
One 28-ounce can whole San Marzano tomatoes, crushed by hand
Creamy Polenta with Spinach, recipe follows, for serving
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
3/4 cup quick-cook polenta
Kosher salt
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
1/2 cup (4 ounces) mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup freshly grated pecorino cheese
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 ounces baby spinach, roughly chopped

Steps:

Heat a medium Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the butter and oil and warm until the butter is melted. Add the carrots, celery, onions and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are soft but have no color, about 6 minutes. Add the beef and lamb and cook, breaking apart the meat with a wooden spoon, until the meat is cooked through and no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Stir the tomato paste, chili paste, red pepper flakes and garlic into the meat mixture. Cook the tomato paste, stirring often, about 2 minutes. Add the milk. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the milk is almost entirely evaporated, about 20 minutes.
Add the wine, bay leaf, Parmesan rind, tomatoes and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer and reduce the heat to low to just maintain a gentle simmer. Simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Skim the oil from the surface.
Spoon the sauce over the Creamy Polenta with Spinach, reserving any extra to serve on the side. Serve with the Parmesan sprinkled over the top and a drizzle of olive oil.
In a Dutch oven, bring the chicken broth, oil, garlic and 1 1/2 cups water to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium low and whisk in the polenta. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, about 10 minutes. Stir in the Parmesan, mascarpone, pecorino and butter. Cook, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Fold in the spinach and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes longer. Add 1/4 cup water if the mixture gets too thick.
Pour the polenta onto a large board or platter. Serve with grated Parmesan over the top.