Easy Slow Cooked Lamb Ragu with Olives

Step 1

Preheat oven to 320f (160c)

Step 2

Dry the lamb pieces with a paper towel and season generously with salt and pepper.

Step 3

Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a pan over medium - high heat (or I do it in two pans at once to save time). Brown the chunks on all sides and set aside. Keep any fat that has rendered to pour into the onion mixture.

Step 4

On a medium - high heat heat 1 tbsp oil in a heavy bottomed oven proof saucepan or Dutch Oven, (something that has a lid).

Step 5

Add the onion, carrot and celery and cook for 12 - 15 minutes until nice and soft. Lower the heat to medium if you need. Season with a couple of big pinches of sea salt and a good few cracks of black pepper.

Step 6

Add the garlic and rosemary and cook for a further 2 minutes.

Step 7

Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring for 2 minutes.

Step 8

Add the wine and let reduce slightly for 2 minutes.

Step 9

Add the stock and tomatoes and bring to a gentle simmer.

Step 10

Add the lamb and any juices on the plate back in, cover and place in the middle of the oven.

Step 11

Cook for 2 1/2 hours. Check after 2 hours but it will probably need the extra 30 mins and it might need more depending on your oven. Pull a chunk of lamb out to test, it should pull apart really easily.

Step 12

Pull all the lamb out, pull apart with forks and add back in to the sauce along with the olives.

Step 13

I like to reduce it down on the stove top for 15 - 20 mins, if you feel like it is too thin you can always add a little cornflour slurry (mix 1 tsp cornflour with a few teaspoons of water and add in).

Step 14

Cook your pasta, potatoes or polenta while it is reducing down.

Step 15

I like to add the pasta straight into the ragu so it can bubble away gently in the sauce. You can always divide it into a couple of different pots to do this.

Step 16

Add a splash of pasta water if it needs it.

Step 17

Serve with lots of freshly grated parmesan.