Lamb Shank Sweet Pepper Ragù Recipes

PASTA WITH BRAISED LAMB SHANK RAGù

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Heat oil in 4-quart ovenproof casserole. Add pancetta, lightly brown and remove. Add lamb shanks, brown on all sides and remove. Lower heat; add onions, garlic and rosemary. Sauté until soft. Add white wine. Scrape pan, return pancetta and lamb to casserole, season with salt and pepper, then cover and bake 90 minutes, turning lamb once.
• Remove lamb from casserole. Cut meat from bones, trimming off fat and gristle. Finely dice meat and add to casserole. Add tomatoes and red pepper. Simmer on top of stove one hour. Check seasoning.
• Boil pasta until al dente, drain, toss with sauce, and serve with pecorino for dusting.

LAMB SHANK AND ROASTED RED CAPSICUM (BELL PEPPER) RAGU

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy based casserole and brown shanks over a medium heat, then remove from heat and set aside.
• Add one more tablespoon olive oil to the same pan and add onion, celery and garlic and stir over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the wine and bring to the boil, scraping up any pieces stuck to the bottom of the pan.
• Return the lamb shanks to the casserole and simmer covered for 20 minutes over a low heat. Add the remaining ingredients except the chopped parsley and simmer a further 10 minutes.
• Transfer to a 180c oven and cook, covered, for 2 hours or until meat is almost falling from the bone.
• Remove lamb and parsley-discard parsley, cool lamb slightly then shred meat with fingers, discarding bones and fat.
• Simmer sauce until reduced by one third, then return lamb to pan and heat through (about 5 minutes).
• Season to taste with freshly ground black pepper, stir the sliced parsley through and serve over a pasta such as papperdelle (a wide, flat one) with parmesan or pecorino cheese.

RIGATONI WITH BRAISED LAMB RAGù

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Heat oil in heavy large ovenproof pot over high heat. Sprinkle lamb shanks with salt and pepper. Add to pot and brown on all sides, about 12 minutes. Transfer lamb shanks to platter. Add onions, mushrooms, garlic, basil, rosemary and crushed red pepper to pot and sauté until vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes. Return lamb to pot. Add wine and boil until liquid has evaporated, about 6 minutes. Add 3 cups beef stock and tomatoes to pot; return to boil.
• Cover pot, transfer to oven and bake until lamb is tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Using tongs, transfer lamb to large bowl. Cool 10 minutes. Cut meat off bones into generous 1/2-inch pieces (discard bones). Return meat to sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Refrigerate uncovered until cold; cover and keep refrigerated. Rewarm over medium-low heat before continuing.)
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain well. Transfer pasta to large serving bowl. Spoon sauce over pasta. Serve, passing Parmesan cheese separately.