Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Sauce
- Heat olive oil in a large pot on medium heat.
- Add the onions, peppers and cook 5 to 7 minutes until soft.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute mixing the garlic well in the other ingredients.
- Add the minced beef and cook until browned.
- Stir in tomato paste; cook for 1 minute.
- optional: Add wine and simmer 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, oregano add salt and pepper to taste.
- Simmer uncovered for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Sauce is a bit thick, you can add more crushed tomatoes if you desire a more liquid sauce. The béchamel will give a creamy consistency.
Béchamel Sauce:
- Melt butter in a saucepan.
- Add flour and whisk for 1–2 minutes (don’t let it brown).
- Slowly add milk while whisking.
- Cook until smooth and thickened.
- Season with nutmeg, salt, pepper.
- fold in the ricotta cheese.
Assemble:
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Add a thin layer of ragù → lasagne sheets → béchamel → mozzarella.
- Repeat 3–4 layers.
- I like to end my assembly with the meat sauce topped with mozzarella. You may wish to end on the béchamel layer. Your choice.
Bake:
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, until golden brown. Fresh lasagna sheets cook faster, so if using dried pasta, tastes the pasta is tender.
- Let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Very important for that photo moment.
Options:
- Remove the beef and your favorite veggies to make a meatless version.
- or replace beef and tomato ingredients add seafood or shrimp, crab or lobster and substitute the tomato sauce with cream.
