Ring in the New Year w/ Hearty, Healthy Lamb Ragu
Raise your hand if you’re ready for the holidays to be over.
I don’t mean to be a party pooper, but this season has wiped me out. It seems no matter how much I prepare and multi-task, at the end of the day, there’s always something I didn’t manage to cross off my to do list.
Lucky for me — and anyone else suffering from PTHD (Post-Traumatic Holiday Disorder) — there’s only one big event left.
This New Year’s Eve we’re actually hosting a dinner party at our home. Fortunately though, I do not have to cook.
The festivities are an extension of a yearly holiday party the BF and his former roommates hosted every year while they lived together, and one of the gentlemen will be handling the menu (thank goodness).
If you are not so lucky however, and you do have to cook tomorrow evening, may I suggest making it easy on yourself and trying a recipe that looks impressive but requires little work?
My Healthy Lamb Ragu is rich, meaty, incredibly easy to make, and perfect for large groups.
I dreamed up this concoction last week to serve for the pre-Christmas dinner the BF and I have each year before we each go away to our respective families. We call it “Tanglish Christmas,” a mash up of our names.
Has a nice ring to it, right?
Lamb Ragu is one of his favorite dishes from our neighborhood restaurant, Terroni. Since Terroni’s version is probably packed with fat though, I took it upon myself to makeover his beloved recipe.
I took chunks of leg of lamb (which is just as healthy as lean beef with only about 2 grams of fat per serving), and combined it with carrots, sweet potatoes, onions, and garlic. I simmered it all in red wine for a rich, luscious taste, and tossed in fresh herbs to give it some flair. Then I let it all seep together for 4 hours in a slow-cooker to get the the most delicious and delicate meat you’ve ever tasted.
Instead of regular pasta, I used brown rice penne to keep the carbs complex and gluten-free.
As a side, I whipped up some Coconut Cauliflower & Herb Mashed “Potatoes,” a mind-blowing recipe from my friend CJ of Vegetarian Dude.
If you like coconut, this stuff is the jam — so light and creamy, an excellent compliment to the hearty ragu.
The recipe below will serve about 6 for only 177 calories each.
Hearty, Healthy Lamb Ragu
Ingredients:
1 lb. Leg of Lamb, cubed and fat removed
1 Onion, chopped
1 Carrot, chopped
1 Sweet Potato, chopped
4 Cloves Garlic, minced
2 C. Canned Whole Plum Tomatoes
1 C. Red Wine
1 T. Olive Oil
2 Sprigs Rosemary
2 T. Fresh Sage
Salt & Pepper
Brown Rice or Whole Wheat Pasta
Directions:
1. Coat lamb cubes in salt and pepper.
2. Brown onions, garlic, and lamb in a large saute pan with the olive oil for about 5-8 minutes, stirring continuously. Don’t worry about overcooking the lamb.
3. Add the carrots and herbs…
…and the wine.
4. Simmer until the wine has reduced by half (about 10 minutes).
5. Crush the whole plum tomatoes with a fork, and add to the crock pot with the lamb mixture…
…and the sweet potatoes.
6. Cook in the crock pot for about 4 hours on high heat or 8 hours on low.
7. Cook your pasta according to the directions on the package and pour ragu over the pasta. Serve immediately.
8. Cheers the New Year!
Total Calories: 177 (without the pasta, serves 6). With a serving of brown rice pasta, about 377.
I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year’s Eve and brings in 2014 with a bang…and a bowl of ragu :)
*This post is linked to Marvelous in my Mondays because I’m feeling pretty marvelous about starting the new year!
GiGi Eats Celebrities says:
I shall be celebrating East Coast New Years, LMFAO!
And dude this LAMB RAGU sounds LEGIT – I am going to show my pops and see if he wants to cook it for me, he he he!
Whitney English says:
Let me know if you do!!! And I know you love exotic meats so you could totally try it with elk or whatever else you guys are packing out there :) Happy New Years sista!
Tonya@Healthy, Fit, and Frugal says:
My hand was raised with a quickness. So ready for then to be over. The lamb looks absolutely amazing and not too difficult even for me the crappy chef. I had to get a new slow cooker over the holidays so what a great way to break it in!
Whitney English says:
That’s what I love most about this recipe, I really don’t think you can mess it up! Happy New Year :)
Arman @ thebigmansworld says:
So refreshing to see more recipes with lamb lol- Seriously, everything is chicken, turkey or sometimes beef- but here in Australia lamb and beef are the main or most favoured meats!
This NYE I think I’ll have a quiet one with a few friends… with some vodka cokes. Seriously the most overrated night of the year.
Whitney English says:
I agree! My Dad always called it, “Amateur’s Night Out.” I used to worry so much about where I was going and what I’d be doing and this year I’m just happy to be spending it with close friends at my own home. Hope you have a great one :)
zozo says:
Love lamb and this dish is so lean! Love the sounds of the cauliflower mash too. Need to try that and the cauliflower pizza crust you & Gigi made :)
Whitney English says:
I am obsessed with cauliflower lately! My next creation will be a cauliflower risotto of sorts :) Happy New Year!
Ashley says:
This looks delicious! I might attempt cooking or you can make it and send me the leftovers? :)
Whitney English says:
Haha for sure! Hope you have a great New Year’s!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says:
Well actually depression sets in post holidays because I live in the arctic and without the magic of the holidays it’s just cold and grey. I need your sunshine!!! Is it weird that my fav restaurant in Toronto is called Terroni?!? Happy New Year!
Whitney English says:
Sad! Well then I probably shouldn’t tell you about the 75 degree weath….uh never mind! From the looks of your pictures, it’s always warm and happy in your home :)
Terroni has 3 locations in Toronto! It’s probably the same place. Random!
Happy New Year to you too!! xoxo
Lauren @ Sweat The Sweet Stuff says:
This could be interesting! Lamb seems to be hit or miss. I like a lamb chop but not really lamb burgers. The other flavors going on with this would make it nice I think!
Whitney English says:
It’s seriously one of the best recipes I’ve made recently. Highly encouraged. You can sub in beef if you like that better though.
Lynn @ The Actor's Diet says:
I was ready for the holidays to be over but now that they are, I’m not. Pass the ragu, please!
Whitney English says:
Luckily this Ragu is good all year long :)
Jacky says:
This looks like a great idea for something different for super bowl! Getting tired of the same old wings and chili. Maybe this is the answer for switching things up!
Whitney English says:
I never thought of that, but yes!! The beer guzzling dudes at your superbowl party will never have to know it’s healthy :)