Lasagne Recipe
Cowbridge Kitchen
About This Recipe
Probably the Iconic Italian dish , Lasagne is the first think most people think of. There are many different recipes for making this Italian Lasagne, but one thing is for sure , if your going to make a Lasagne then you have to make your own pasta.
When making a Lasagne you need to make it in three sections, first you have to make your Pasta, second you need a great tasting Ragu and then a creamy béchamel sauce.
Once the three sections of the Lasagne have been made you simply create layers of Pasta and Ragu topped off with the béchamel sauce and bake it in the oven for the Classic Italian Lasagne
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The history of lasagna reflects the culinary evolution of Italy and its cultural exchanges over centuries. This delicious dish, characterized by layers of pasta, cheese, meat, and sauce, can trace its origins back to ancient Greece, where a dish called "Laganon" was made from layers of pasta and sauce.
However, it was in the Middle Ages that lasagna began to take on its modern form, particularly in the region of Emilia-Romagna, where the use of fresh egg pasta became prevalent.
By the 14th century, references to lasagna appeared in Italian cookbooks, showcasing variations that included ingredients such as béchamel and various meats.
The dish gained widespread popularity in the 19th century, particularly with the advent of the industrial revolution, which made pasta production more accessible. As Italian immigrants spread across the globe, they brought their culinary traditions with them, leading to the creation of numerous regional adaptations, particularly in the United States, where the dish has evolved to include ingredients like ricotta cheese and marinara sauce.
Today, lasagna remains a symbol of Italian cuisine, celebrated for its comforting layers and the communal experience it fosters around the dining table.
30 mins Prep time
1 hr Cooking time
Time
This is based on a 1 piece
250g portion
Calories: 348
Protein: 19g
Fat: 12g
Carbohydrates: 40g
Fiber: 4g
Sugar: 8.3g
Nutrition
Servings
Anybody can have a go at this recipe, but you need some experience to make this.
Difficulty
Lasagna or Lasagne has its origins deep in Italian cuisine, you can find out more about this dish @The history of the Lasagne
We have made our own pasta for this recipe, but you can use dry pasta sheets just the same.
Pasta Recipes , Beef Recipes ,
Cost to make:
£8.27 / $10.47 (Est.)
Equipment:
Shop...
Pasta Machine,
What is a Lasagne
Lasagne is a traditional Italian dish characterized by its layered structure, which typically consists of sheets of pasta interspersed with various fillings.
The most common ingredients include a rich meat sauce, often made from ground beef or pork, combined with tomatoes, onions, and herbs, as well as a creamy béchamel sauce or ricotta cheese.
These layers are assembled in a baking dish and topped with a generous amount of grated cheese, usually mozzarella or Parmesan, which melts and forms a golden crust during baking.
The dish is then cooked in the oven until bubbling and heated through, resulting in a hearty and satisfying meal that is often served with a side salad or garlic bread.
Lasagne is not only celebrated for its comforting flavors and textures but also for its versatility, as it can be adapted to include a variety of ingredients, such as vegetables or different types of cheese, catering to diverse dietary preferences and tastes.
Cuisine:Italian
ingredients
350 g fresh minced beef
1 Brown Onion
1 tbs of Soft Brown Sugar (15g)
30 g Salted Butter
15 g of plain flour
1 tsp of lazy garlic
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
100 ml Red Wine
3 tbs (45 g) Tomato Paste
2 beef stock cubes
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
1.5 tsp Italian Spice Mix
For the Bechamel Sauce
400 - 500 ml milk (Warm)
45 g of butter
30 g of plain flour
150 g Grated Cheese
Cooking Instructions
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For the Bolognese
- Dice up your onion and add the lazy garlic to it, mix together.
- Melt the butter in a pan then fry off the onions & Garlic until soft, about 10 minutes.
- Add the sugar to the onions and allow to cook for a further 5 minutes
- When the onions are soft , add the minced beef and fry until it is cooked. You can chop this up with a wooden spoon as it cooks.
- Empty the chopped tomatoes, Red wine and Tomato paste into a food processor and process for a few seconds so that the tomatoes are well chopped up.
- Add the crumbled up stock cubes, Pepper and Italian Spice into the cooked beef and mix it in well.
- When the beef mixture has been cooking for a few extra minutes add the flour and mix in to form a loose roux.
- Add the processed chopped tomato sauce and mix up with a wooden spoon.
- leave this to cook for around 15 minutes on a low heat.
- Cover and set aside.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan.
- Add the flour to the melted butter, and mix.
- Then add the warm milk. The more milk you add the thinner your sauce will be, keep cooking and whisk continually.
- Mix in the cheese until melted.
- Cover and set the sauce aside.
- In a greased oven dish , place the first sheet of pasta to fit.
- Add a good quantity of bolognese , then add the second pasta sheet on top . cut to fit.
- It is a nice idea to add a layer of cheese slices on top of the first layer of bolognese.
- Add another layer of bolognese , and finally cover with the last pasta sheet, being careful not to leave any corners sticking up.
- Cover with a generous amount (if not all) of the cheese sauce.
- Cover with foil before cooking
- Back in a preheated oven @ 180 c for approx. 35 minutes.
- Remove the foil and continue cooking for another 10 minutes.
- Remove the dish from the oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes, garnish with grated Parmesan or hard Italian cheese and fresh Basil leaves.
When making a Lasagne, look at it as 3 steps.
Step 1: Make your Pasta
Step 2: Make a Ragu (Meat)
Step 3: Make a Béchamel sauce
Then all you have to do it put it together, layer by layer.
