Lamb and Rosemary Mac with Pecorino and Feta Crumb Topping

This amazingly delicious lamb and rosemary mac with pecorino and feta crumb topping is a Delia Smith recipe from the October 2019 UK Delicious magazine…there was a special feature ‘Delia Celebrates 50 Years’.   Unfortunately, the recipe isn’t coming up on the website, so I can’t share the link – sorry!

We LOVE mac and cheese (who doesn’t…!?!) and also lamb, so when I saw this recipe combining the two, it was definitely one I needed to make, and we really weren’t disappointed.   It was amazing and so very much worth the time and effort.

Please do try it – it’s yum!

Other Recipes

You might also like to try:

• breads
• pasta dishes
• lamb dishes

Ingredients

For the lamb and rosemary ragu:

• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1kg boneless lamb shoulder diced
• 900ml tomato passata
• 4 rosemary sprigs
• 0.5 tsp fennel seeds
• 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
• 4 anchovy fillets in oil drained
• 2 red chillies finely chopped

For the macaroni and cheese:

• 50g unsalted butter
• 35g plain flour
• 600ml milk
• 250g macaroni cooked according to packet instructions, drained and refreshed
• 100g pecorino, finely grated
• 100g feta crumbled
• 30g panko breadcrumbs

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Instructions

1. Make the ragu first – heat the oil in a flameproof casserole over a high heat. Season the lamb and add it to the casserole. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, turning until browned all over. Then add the passata, 3 of the rosemary sprigs, fennel seeds, garlic, anchovies and chopped chilli. Season with salt and pepper, reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 2 hours or until lamb is tender.
2. Meanwhile, cook the macaroni according to the instructions on the packet, drain and set aside.
3. Once the lamb is cooked, turn off the heat and set aside.
4. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
5. Make the sauce for the macaroni – melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat. Add flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute, then gradually add milk and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes or until thickened. Stir in the macaroni and 50g of the pecorino. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste.
6. Top the ragu in the casserole with the macaroni and cheese, then scatter over the feta, panko breadcrumbs, the leaves from the remaining rosemary sprig and the remaining 50g of pecorino.
7. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until golden and bubbling. Leave to stand for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
8. Enjoy with some of our authentic focaccia…and look forward to the leftovers, if there are any!!

Lamb and Rosemary Mac with Pecorino and Feta Crumb Topping

Deborah

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Prep Time 25 mins

Cook Time 2 hrs 50 mins

Course Main, Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Servings 8 people

Ingredients

  

For the lamb and rosemary ragu:

• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1kg boneless lamb shoulder diced
• 900ml tomato passata
• 4 rosemary sprigs
• 0.5 tsp fennel seeds
• 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
• 4 anchovy fillets in oil drained
• 2 red chillies finely chopped

For the macaroni and cheese:

• 50g unsalted butter
• 35g plain flour
• 600ml milk
• 250g macaroni cooked according to packet instructions, drained and refreshed
• 100g pecorino finely grated
• 100g feta crumbled
• 30g panko breadcrumbs

Instructions

 

• Make the ragu first - heat the oil in a flameproof casserole over a high heat. Season the lamb and add it to the casserole. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, turning until browned all over. Then add the passata, 3 of the rosemary sprigs, fennel seeds, garlic, anchovies and chopped chilli. Season with salt and pepper, reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 2 hours or until lamb is tender.
• Meanwhile, cook the macaroni according to the instructions on the packet, drain and set aside.
• Once lamb is cooked, turn off the heat and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Make the sauce for the macaroni - melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat. Add flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute, then gradually add milk and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes or until thickened. Stir in the macaroni and 50g of the pecorino. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste.
• Top the ragu in the casserole with the macaroni and cheese, then scatter over the feta, panko breadcrumbs, the leaves from the remaining rosemary sprig and the remaining 50g of pecorino.
• Bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until golden and bubbling. Leave to stand for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
• Enjoy with some of our authentic focaccia…and look forward to the leftovers, if there are any!!

Notes

You might also like to try:

• breads
• pasta dishes
• lamb dishes

 

Keyword anchovy fillets, fennel seeds, feta, garlic, lamb shoulder, large pasta shells, macaroni, passata, pecorino, ragu, rosemary

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