Lasagne is that Italian meat dish with stacked layers of rich bolognese sauce, pasta sheets and creamy white sauce. It's sort of like a savoury layered cake - and just as comforting.
Servings 6
Total Time 1 hourhr40 minutesmins
Ingredients
For the Lasagne
3Tbspcooking oil
750gbeef or lamb mince
125gStreaky bacon finely chopped
1large onion chopped
2clovesgarlic crushed
1carrot coarsely grated
2stalks celery finely chopped
1can of diced tomatoes
160gtomato paste
1cupwhite or red wine according to your taste
1cupchicken or beef stock
1tspitalian herbs
2bay leaves
salt and pepper to taste
250gdry lasagne sheets
For the White Sauce
100gbutter
½cupflour
1litre4 cups milk
½cupgrated mature cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
1cupgrated mature cheddar cheese for the topping
Instructions
Preparing the Lasagne
Add mince and brown, breaking it up with a fork until crumbly
Add tomatoes, tomato paste, wine, stock, herbs, bay leaves and seasoning
Simmer on low for 1 hour adding water if the mixture looks too dry
Set aside as you make the white sauce
White sauce and finishing
In another saucepan make the white sauce by melting butter
Stir in the flour for a minute
Gradually stir in the milk until the mixture is smooth and thickened
Season to taste
Add cheese and stir until melted
To put the meal together
Combine meat sauce, white sauce and lasagne sheets
In an ovenproof dish, layer meat sauce, lasagne sheets, white sauce, lasagne sheets (Try not to overlap lasagne sheets)
Continue in this fashion ending with a thick layer of white sauce
Sprinkle with cheese (and a sprinkle of paprika if you wish)
Preheat oven to 350 °F
Leave to stand 30 - 40 minutes before baking in a heated oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown on top
Keep in a warmer drawer for 10 - 15 minutes before serving
Notes
Cut down on standing and cooking time by using fresh lasagna sheets and don't make the layers too thick. This lasagne reheats and freezes well, so it can be made in advance for a spectacular last-minute meal.
Course: Mains
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: cheese, Instant Pot, lasagne, meat, pasta