A hearty winter pasta with plenty of meat: browned ground lamb in a rosemary-garlic tomato ragù, tossed with pasta and finished with a little cheese. No lemon/dill/cream profile and not mushroom-forward.
Details
Ingredients
- Simple Truth® Natural Ground Lamb (1 lb) 1 lb $9.99 (sale)
- Pasta (rigatoni, penne, or spaghetti) 8 oz (half a 1-lb box)
- Simple Truth Organic® Roma Tomatoes (16 oz) 1 can crushed tomatoes (14–28 oz) or 2 cups chopped $3.99
- Fresh Onions – Peruvian Gold Sweet Onion (3 lb bag) 1/2 medium onion, finely diced $5.49
- Simple Truth Organic® Garlic Bulbs (3 ct) 3 cloves, minced $2.79
- Olive oil 1 tbsp (plus more if needed)
- Dried rosemary (or Italian seasoning) 1 tsp
- Smoked paprika (optional) 1/2 tsp
- Red pepper flakes (optional) 1/4 tsp
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Parmesan or Pecorino 1/3–1/2 cup, grated
- Pasta water 1/2–1 cup reserved
Instructions
- Start pasta water: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Brown the lamb: Heat a large skillet over medium-high with 1 tbsp olive oil. Add lamb and cook 6–8 minutes, breaking it up, until deeply browned. Season with pepper and a pinch of salt. If there’s lots of fat, spoon off a bit (leave ~1 tbsp for flavor).
- Build the base: Add onion and cook 3–4 minutes until softened. Add garlic, rosemary, and paprika/red pepper flakes (if using) and cook 30 seconds.
- Simmer ragù: Stir in crushed tomatoes plus 1/2 cup water. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 12–18 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and saucy. Taste and adjust salt.
- Cook pasta: Boil pasta to al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
- Toss: Add pasta to the ragù with 1/4–1/2 cup pasta water. Toss 1 minute to coat and gloss up the sauce. Add more pasta water if needed.
- Finish & serve: Off heat, stir in half the cheese. Plate and top with remaining cheese.
Health notes: ~700–900 kcal/person depending on pasta/cheese. High protein and iron; add a romaine side salad to balance.
Drink pairing: Wine: Washington Sangiovese, Syrah, or a medium-bodied Cabernet Franc.