Spring Pasta Bolognese With Lamb and Peas

Updated March 30, 2021

Spring Pasta Bolognese With Lamb and Peas
David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
45 minutes
Rating
4(2,140)
Comments
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This recipe is inspired by springtime and Bolognese bianco, or white Bolognese, a hearty Italian meat sauce made without tomato. It calls for ground lamb, but you can also use beef, pork or veal. The addition of cream to the simmering broth helps tenderize the lamb, and gives the sauce body. Incorporating starchy pasta water, then stirring it vigorously, creates a glossy, thick coating. Spinach, peas and lemon provide fresh, bright notes that balance the rich Bolognese. If fresh peas are available, cook them in the sauce for a few minutes before stirring in the spinach.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 2tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1cup finely chopped yellow onion
  • 1cup finely chopped carrot
  • 6garlic cloves, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
  • 1pound ground lamb (or ground beef, pork or veal)
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • 3cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • ½cup heavy cream
  • 1large fresh rosemary sprig
  • 1pound spaghetti
  • 1cup thawed frozen peas (about 5 ounces)
  • 5ounces fresh baby spinach
  • 2tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • ½cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (about 2 ounces), plus more for garnish
  • ¼cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

1117 calories; 57 grams fat; 26 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 22 grams monounsaturated fat; 5 grams polyunsaturated fat; 105 grams carbohydrates; 8 grams dietary fiber; 9 grams sugars; 47 grams protein; 1453 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium. Add onion and carrot and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.

  2. Step 2

    Add lamb, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring to break up the meat, until no longer pink, about 3 minutes. Stir in broth, heavy cream and rosemary, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer, partly covered and stirring occasionally, until mixture is thickened, about 30 minutes. (The sauce may look broken at first, but it will emulsify as it cooks.) Discard the rosemary sprig.

  3. Step 3

    As the sauce cooks, make the pasta: Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water and drain the pasta.

  4. Step 4

    Over medium heat, add the peas and spinach to the sauce and stir until spinach is wilted. Add the cooked pasta, butter and ½ cup of the reserved pasta cooking water to the sauce. Toss vigorously until sauce is thickened and coats the pasta, about 2 minutes, adding more pasta water if a looser sauce is desired. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice, cheese and parsley. Season with salt and pepper.

  5. Step 5

    Divide pasta among bowls. Garnish with more cheese, parsley and black pepper.

Ratings

4 out of 5
2,140 user ratings
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Comments

Here in Italy a white ragù is cooked in a bit of white wine (like a cup), never broth. The sauce will be very thick, indeed the dissolved slow-cooked meat is the actual sauce. Pasta water at the end is sufficient to help it coat the pasta--usually fresh egg pasta like tagliatele; spaghetti does not pair well with densely textured meat sauces. We might brown one whole clove of garlic in the sauce and then remove it, but Italians fear garlic and would never add 6 chopped cloves.

This recipe was a bit of a disappointment. The sauce never emulsified and remained super brothy, despite having simmered it for 45 minutes. If I were to make again, I would half the amount of broth. The flavor could also use a bit more complexity and kick — I would add red hot pepper flakes and perhaps a splash of white wine.

This was excellent. Subbed half and half for the cream, just let cook a few minutes longer. Next time I will add a little mint at the end in place of parsley.

Can this sauce be made ahead except for adding peas and spinach?

Very tasty recipe. To avoid the outcome that others commented about, you should EITHER increase the amount of meat and soffritto used OR reduce the amount liquid used to achieve a thicker sauce. Wine is a welcome addition to deglaze the pot after browning the meat and sautéing the soffritto. PS: I also prefer to cook sauces in the oven when possible at 300 degrees F as it provides a more consistent, 360 degrees of heat around the pot. Obviously requires a oven safe pot or dutch oven.

Took over an hour to reduce at a simmer, finally emulsified after adding 1/4 c more cream. Delightful once finished but took longer than expected.

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