Pumpkin Beef Bolognese - Serving Dumplings

Ingredients

• 14 ounces pasta
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 shallots (finely chopped)
• 3 garlic cloves (minced)
• 1 celery stalk (finely chopped)
• 4 cups diced pumpkin (with skin, seeded (like hokkaido pumpkin/red kuri squash))
• 1 small or ½ large fennel bulb (trimmed and diced)
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried sage
• 1 tsp dried marjoram
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp chili flakes
• salt (to taste)
• black pepper (to taste)
• 1 ¾ cups beef broth (or chicken or vegetable broth)
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 cups puréed tomatoes
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• fresh thyme (for serving)
• chili flakes (for serving)
• 5 tbsp ricotta
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp grated parmesan