Rapid Ragu

Recipe courtesy Nigella Lawson, 2007

Show: Nigella ExpressEpisode: Instant Calmer

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (13)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(13)

Cook Time:
20 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
4 servings

Times:

Prep: 10 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 20 min
Total:: 30 min

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Ingredients

2 tablespoons garlic oil
1 cup cubed pancetta
1 pound ground lamb
1/4 cup caramelized onions *available at gourmet and specialty stores as Onion Confit, or recipe follows
1/3 cup Marsala
1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1/3 cup green lentils
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup grated red Leicester or Cheddar, optional

Directions

Heat the oil in a wide, medium-sized saucepan, and fry the pancetta until beginning to crisp.

Add the lamb breaking it up with a fork in the bacony pan as it browns.

Tip in the caramelized onions, Marsala, tomatoes, lentils and water and bring the pan to the boil.

Simmer the ragu for 20 minutes stirring occasionally. Sprinkle over the cheese before serving, if using.

Caramelized Onions:

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 cups sliced onions (about 2 medium size onions)

Heat a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until the onions are a deep golden brown and soft, about 25 to 30 minutes. Make sure to use a gentle heat and cook the onions slowly so they don't burn. Onions will keep in the fridge for up to 1 week.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Rapid Ragu
Michelle Fitchburg, MA 01-12-2009
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Good but wasn't rapid!
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I needed to add more water and cook longer than 20 minutes for the lentils to cook through. End result was good but the... large amount of protein in this dish made us serve it over pasta. Also made with ground turkey for a more healthful version. Read more
recipe Rapid Ragu
Carol Holliston, MA 12-28-2008
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Great Comfort Food
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I carmalized the onions since I was unable to locate in any store. But still very easy. I used a pork/beef mixture and also... added about a 1/2 cup of jarred tomato sauce which gave it a richer feel & taste. This is a great Sunday night dinner.Read more
recipe Rapid Ragu
margaret timonium, MD 07-27-2008
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Found the Onions!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Canyon Foods carries Caramelized Onions - 7 oz jar is $7.00 as of today. I'm going to order some from their website. In... meantime, I tried this with caramelized onion balsamic spread I was able to find. I added a bit more marsala to counter the vinegar. I did't like the way the lamb looked at the market, so I used a ground beef/pork/veal mix (same as you might use for meatloaf) and it was very flavorful and avoided the rich/gamey taste lamb sometimes has. (If anyone else has a source for the jarred onions, I'd appreciate knowing it.) Thanks! (...and thanks, Nigella!)Read more
recipe Rapid Ragu
Anonymous 04-26-2008
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Delish!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Saw this on TV, thought it looked yummy, subbed veal for lamb and prosciutto for pancetta only because it's what we had in... the house - delicious! The minimal effort & time required will make this a staple for quick weeknight dinners!Read more
recipe Rapid Ragu
Ellen Chicago, IL 04-06-2008
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REALLY rich...
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

Not draining the pancetta fat or the lamb fat makes this really rich. Next time I'll drain off the fat and add more... tomatoes. Also, the lentils didn't disolve entirely, so I will add them earlier so they cook longer.Read more
recipe Rapid Ragu
peg oak park, IL 01-22-2008
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intense flavor
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

I don't like lamb as a rule but I do like ground lamb. This was good but I thought the lamb taste was overpowering. ... Wouldm't make again.Read more