You haven’t had the best Lasagna because you have never tried this recipe yet! Well, this is your lucky day! Just follow these simple steps for they will guide you to perfection. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
Ragu
Olive Oil, as needed
1 c / 250ml Red Wine
2 ribs of Celery, finely diced
large White Onion, finely diced
2.2 pounds / 1kg Ground Beef
2 tablespoons Tomato Puree
3.5 ounces / 100g Pancetta, finely diced
2 c / 500ml Beef Stock
2 medium Carrots, grated on a box grater
1/4 c each: Fresh Basil, Fresh Parsley, finely diced (plus extra to garnish)
3 cloves of Garlic, minced
2 c / 500ml Tomato Passata
Salt & Pepper, to taste
1.5 teaspoon sugar, or to taste
1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
2 Bay Leaves
Bechamel Sauce
4 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
1/2 small Nutmeg, grated
4 c / 1-litre milk, at room temp
Salt & Pepper, to taste
3.5 ounces / 100g Parmesan, grated
5 tablespoons Plain Flour
Lasagna
2 c / 200g Mozzarella, shredded
12 ounces / 350g Fresh Lasagna Sheets
Directions:
For the Ragu:
Place a large pot on the stove and turn the heat to medium.
Add 1 tbsp of olive oil and allow it to become hot.
Add the meat, then cook until crumbly and brown. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste.
Transfer the browned meat into a baking dish. Remove accumulated grease.
In the empty pot, add the Pancetta and cook until brown.
Add the carrot, onion, and celery. Sauté until soft.
Add the garlic and sauté until aromatic.
Add the tomato paste, then stir until well blended. Cook for a minute to remove the raw taste.
Add a bit of wine, then scrape the bottom of the pot to get the browned bits.
Add the tomato passata, basil, beef stock, salt, pepper, oregano, bay leaves, and 1 tsp sugar. Stir until well blended.
Reduce the heat to low, then simmer everything for 1 hour and 30 minutes covered. Make sure to stir from time to time.
Remove the cover, then simmer for 30 more minutes.
For the Bechamel Sauce:
Place a pot on the stove and turn the heat to medium.
Add butter and allow it to melt.
Add the flour, then whisk and cook for a minute to remove the raw taste.
Add the milk, then whisk until well blended. Simmer for a few minutes until the texture becomes thick.
Add the Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg, Stir until well blended. Remove from the stove.
For the Lasagna:
Prepare the oven and preheat to 175 degrees C or 350 degrees F.
Add a few scoops of the ragu into a 9×13-inch baking dish, then spread it to the bottom.
Add the pasta sheets, Ragu, Bechamel sauce, and mozzarella cheese into the prepared baking dish. Arrange them in layers.
Place it inside the preheated oven and bake for about 40 minutes or until done.
Remove from the oven and allow it to rest for a few minutes at room temperature.
Serve warm and enjoy!