Give leftover roast lamb a new lease of life in this tasty leftover lamb pasta sauce with eggplant - comforting, tasty and easy to make.
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Much as I love roast lamb, and variations on the theme like my boneless leg of lamb on a bed of mint, there is nearly always too much for us to eat all at once, there's just not that many of us. Well, more to the point the boys haven't developed huge appetites yet.
I sometimes use leftover lamb in sandwiches or in lamb pilaf, which we love, but I wanted to try something else last time. This leftover lamb pasta sauce is a bit of a cross between caponata and a lamb ragu. It's comforting, tasty, and a great way to use up some Easter leftovers.
In case caponata is unfamiliar, it's a Sicilian dish made with eggplant/aubergine. The additions can vary but usually include tomato, onions and some herbs and often olives, capers, raisins and even a little chocolate.
Here I have used many of those sweet savory flavors along with some diced leftover lamb. While caponata is usually served room temperature, I made this warm, more like a Bolognese sauce or ragu.
How to make this leftover lamb pasta sauce
This leftover lamb pasta sauce is easy to make, although it does take slightly longer than some pasta sauces. First, you cook the onions and eggplant in a skillet then add in the chopped lamb to brown it. Add the remaining ingredients and let it simmer a bit and the flavors mingle. Then, serve over pasta and enjoy.
I have served this with buccatini but to be honest, I think it would be better with a smaller pasta such as farfalle or penne. Sometimes you just go with what you have. Whatever you use, this sauce is a tasty way to use up leftover lamb in a nicely, different way. So instead of just one tasty lamb dinner, you have two (or more, of course).
Try these other tasty pasta sauces:
- Creamy bacon sauce with spinach
- Butternut squash sauce
- Walnut sauce
- Plus get more main dishes in the archives.
Leftover lamb pasta sauce with eggplant
Ingredients
- ½ onion large or 1 small
- 10 oz eggplant 275g aubergine
- 4 tablespoon olive oil divided
- 1 clove garlic large
- 6 oz leftover roast lamb 170g, trimmed and diced small
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh mint chopped
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder or dark chocolate chips, optional
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 ½ cups finely chopped tomatoes 360ml
- 2 tablespoon pitted green olives roughly chopped (or use slices)
Instructions
- Dice the onion and eggplant into relatively small dice.
- Warm half the oil in a medium skillet/frying pan and add the onion and eggplant. Cook, stirring regularly, until they are both softening. Add a little more oil at a time as needed to avoid sticking (you just don't want all at once or just a few pieces of eggplant will absorb it all).
- Once the eggplant and onion are soft, finely chop the garlic and add to the pan. Stir and cook for a couple minutes. Add the leftover lamb and cook a minute, stirring regularly, until it browns.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the pan (parsley, mint, chocolate/cocoa if using, oregano, cinnamon, tomatoes and olives). Mix well, bring to a simmer and cook over a low heat for around 10 minutes to bring the flavors together. Serve over pasta of your choice (recommend eg penne, farfalle).
Nutrition
See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store.
Now that you've enjoyed your Easter meal, chocolate or whatever else, give the leftovers another lease of life! Get some inspiration from all the leftover recipes being shared today:
- Ham, Pea and Onion Risotto from Family around the Table
- Macaroni and Cheese with Ham from Palatable Pastime
- Jelly Bean Cookies from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Deviled Ham and Egg Salad from Cooking with Carlee
- Loaded Stuffed Potato Pancakes from Jolene's Recipe Journal
Remember to pin for later!
Jo says
Tried this using mutton leftovers, add a little chilli to the tomatoes and peas for added green veg. Fabulous!
Caroline's Cooking says
So glad you enjoyed, they sound like great additions as well!
Danielle says
What a great way to use leftover lamb! I always want to roast a leg of lamb, but it's just two of us and it seems like so much. This is perfect, not we can have multiple meals!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Danielle, I agree the leftovers can be tricky at times but there are definitely a few good ways to use them up!
heather (delicious not gorgeous) says
caponata is one of my favorites! something about how tender the eggplant gets, with the briny olives, mmm. and adding lamb sounds like such a good idea! both to use up your leftovers, but also to bulk up the caponata and adds some protein (:
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Heather, I agree caponata is great and the lamb in this works well too.
Jan says
That looks scrumptious! I am so glad you shared it at teh Easter Leftover Makeover Recipe Party. .I know you'll inspire many to expand their menu's and their tastebuds!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks so much Jan, it's a tasty way to use up some leftovers.
Wendy Klik says
Thanks for the great recipe. I have some leftover lamb chops that I can adapt to this recipe.
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Wendy, you could also use ground lamb, you would just want to remove some of the fat as you cook as it may be too much.