30-Minute Ground Lamb Ragu with Mint & Ricotta
Quick, flavorful Italian ragu made with ground lamb, marinara sauce, ricotta cheese, and mint is loved by everyone. In fact, this has been my go-to drop-off meal for loved ones for the last decade. I like to serve it with linguine or fettuccine, but any shape will work. A quick, easy, and flavorful pasta the whole family will love!
Servings: 6 -8 servings
Calories: 761kcal
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp (30ml) extra virgin olive oil
- ½ medium (90g) yellow onion, about ½ cup
- 2 (50g) shallots, about ¼ cup
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1½ lb (680g) ground lamb
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 lb (454g) tagliatelle, or other long flat pasta
- 24 oz (710ml) marinara sauce, store-bought or homemade
- 1 cup (237ml) red wine
- ½ cup (120g) ricotta
- ¼ cup fresh mint, roughly chopped, plus more for serving
- Parmesan cheese, grated, for serving
Instructions
- Sweat the aromatics. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large, deep skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and shallot and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic, stir, then cook 30 seconds longer.
- Brown the lamb. Add ground lamb to the skillet, then season with kosher salt and black pepper. Use a wooden spoon to break lamb apart. Cook until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes.
- Deglaze the pan. Pour in red wine, then scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Cook at a rapid boil until wine reduces by half, about 2 minutes. Add marinara sauce, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes.
- Cook the pasta. When water is boiling, add tagliatelle (or other pasta) and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain pasta and set aside.
- Finish the sauce. Return to ragu and add fresh ricotta cheese and chopped mint leaves. Stir to combine, taste, then adjust seasoning as needed. Simmer until ready to serve! You can either pour spoonfuls of lamb ragu over noodles or add the cooked pasta directly to the pot of ragu, then toss to coat. Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese and additional chopped mint, as desired.
Notes
- Level it up: Take this sauce over the top by making homemade ricotta — it’s unbelievably thick, creamy, and luxurious.
- Freezing: The pasta sauce freezes beautifully for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: Warm gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring often, or microwave in short bursts (covered) until heated through. Add a splash of water, broth, or extra sauce before reheating to loosen everything and prevent drying out.
Nutrition
Calories: 761kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 157mg | Sodium: 1086mg | Potassium: 936mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 709IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 117mg | Iron: 5mg
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