While Nick and I are spending time with our Peanut, I would like to introduce you to a few of my lovely blog friends.
Nina’s blog, Peace, Love & Good Food combines homey Italian recipes and entertaining with sweet stories about married life. She’s one of those girls who is so genuine that it’s impossible not to develop an instant connection with. I so hope our real-life paths cross someday!
Hi y’all! It’s Nina, from Peace, Love & Good Food dropping in to leave a little something delicious on Emily & Nick’s blog.
I was so excited when Emily contacted me about guest posting on The Culinary Couple. This blog is one that helped inspire me when I was creating my little space and is one of my all time favorites. Some of the favorite recipes in our house are from the Wiley kitchen. As I make our meal plan for the upcoming week, I often find myself drooling over all of the recipes in their recipe index. Let’s say is all together now…we love Emily & Nick! (Peanut…we love you, too!)
With the fall weather quickly approaching, I thought that a warm and cozy recipe would be seasonally appropriate. And everyone expects a pasta recipe from a nice Italian girl, right? This ragut recipe has an unexpected twist and many depths of flavor. Ground lamb offers a bit of sweetness that you will not get using any other kind of ground meat and the mint is a brilliant and fresh addition. Rigatoni, in my opinion, is an under-appreciated pasta and works so well with this sauce. I made this dish when my parents came to visit us back in the Spring and both of them wanted to go swimming in the bowl. May I also add that my parents are kitchen superstars and winning them over with this pasta proved to them I wasn’t just hanging out in the kitchen all those years, I was actually learning and getting inspired! Giada’s Lamb Ragut with Mint is the perfect pasta meal for a chilly Sunday evening or a mid week pick me up. Pair with your favorite red wine and make any night a date night. Enjoy!
Lamb Ragut with Mint
Recipe from Giada DeLaurentiis
- 1 pound rigatoni pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 shallots, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 pounds ground lamb
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1 cup red wine
- 4 cups marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, torn
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook 8-10 minutes until cooked al dente. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat olive oil over high heat. Add garlic and shallots and cook until tender. Add the ground lamb, salt and pepper to flavor and cook until the lamb has cooked entirely. Add wine to the skillet and scrape up any brown bits with a wooden spoon. Simmer until the wine has reduced by half. Add marinara sauce and cook until the flavors have blended, about 10 minutes. Add ricotta and stir until mixed. Toss the pasta with the sauce and finish with the mint.
yum! I rarely make lamb at home because it seems so daunting. But this recipe is really accessible. Thanks for sharing!
Oh YES! This dish combines some of my very favorite flavors… I’m all over it!
This looks and sounds AMAZING! I have never eaten lamb before but I am definitely feeling the urge to make it with this dish. Dumb question–where can I buy ground lamb?