BAKED RIGATONI WITH LAMB RAGù

Baked Rigatoni with Lamb Ragù image

Provided by Ina Garten

Categories main-dish

Time 2h

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

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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.