Lasagne

Ingredients

3 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, finely chopped

1 carrot

3 garlic cloves, crushed

140g pack cubetti di pancetta

1kg pack beef mince

200ml milk

2 cans chopped tomatoes

2 bay leaves

1 rosemary sprig

2 thyme sprigs

2 tsp dried oregano

2 beef stock cubes

500ml red wine

400g fresh pasta sheets

50g grated parmesan

For the bechamel sauce

1½ liter milk

1 sliced onion

3 bay leaves

3 cloves

100g butter

100g plain flour

Method

Put the milk, onion, bay leaves and cloves into a large saucepan and bring gently to the boil. Take off the heat and set aside.

Into a large saucepan put the oil, onion, carrot, garlic and pancetta. Cook together until the veg are soft. Add  the mince, the milk and tomatoes and cook until the mince has broken down, pressing against the side of the saucepan when needed. Stir in all the herbs, the stock cubes and wine, and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 1 hr, stirring. Uncover and gently simmer for another 30 mins-1 hr until the meat is tender.

To complete the béchamel, strain the milk through a fine sieve into a jug. Melt the butter in the same pan mixing in the flour and cook for 2 mins. Slowly stir in the strained milk, the mix will thicken at first so be sure to keep stiring, adding milk gradually to avoid lumps. When all the milk is in, bring to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly until thickened.

Heat oven to 180°C. Spread a spoonful of the meat sauce over the base of a lasagna dish. Cover with a single layer of pasta sheets, top with a quarter of the béchamel. Spoon over a third of the meat sauce and top with Parmesan. Repeat the layers – pasta, béchamel, meat and Parmesan – two more times to use all the meat sauce. Add a final layer of pasta, the last of the béchamel and remaining Parmesan. Bake for 1 hr until bubbling, browned and crisp on top.

Products Used 

Kitchen Craft Stainless Steel 20cm Extra Deep Saucepan 
Colourworks Silicone Spoon 
Master Class Stainless Steel 20.5cm Fine Mesh Sieve 
Kitchen Craft Stainless Steel 850mlJug 
World of Flavours Italian Large Lasagne Dish 
World of Flavours Italian Complete Pasta Making Set