Lasagne

A family favourite lasagne is a great feed a crowd dish, its a great dish for batch cooking so I always double the recipe and make a second one for the freezer for a meal at a later date. It freezes very well but will take 24-48 hours to defrost in the refrigerator and can be frozen cooked or uncooked. I also freeze leftover single serves wrapped in glad wrap for a quick single meal at a later date.

The base for a basic lasagne is a rich bolognaise sauce layered with pasta sheets, topped with a delicious cheesy white sauce and finished with more melty cheese and baked in the oven until golden.

Beef Lasagne

Layers of bolognaise sauce with pasta sheets and cheese.

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Prep Time 40 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 40 minutes mins

Servings: 8

Course: Main Course

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 kg Beef mince
• 1 Onion finely diced or grated
• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 2 tsp Chopped Garlic or 2 Cloves garlic chopped
• 800 gm Tomato Passata or tinned crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 Cup Tomato Paste
• 1 tsp Dried Basil
• 2 Bay Leaves
• 2 Tbsp Sweet Chilli sauce (optional but recommended)
• 1 Pkt Lasagne Sheets Fresh or Dried

White Sauce

• 40 gm Butter
• 40 gm Plain Flour
• 500 ml Milk
• Pinch Salt
• Pinch Pepper
• 1 cup Tasty Cheese, grated

Method

 

1. In a large pan over medium heat fry the onion and garlic 5 minutes or until soft and golden.
   
2. Increase heat and add the minced steak, frying until browned approximately 10-15 minutes stirring to breakup lumps.
   
3. Add passata or tinned crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, bay leaves, dries basil and Sweet Chilli sauce (if using), stirring well.
   
4. Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
   

White Sauce

1. Melt butter in a saucepan or microwave jug
2. Stir in the flour until a smooth paste forms.
3. Slowly add the milk and mix it into the flour mix.
4. Cook in the microwave 3 minutes on high; stirring regularly, or cook on the stove for 10 minutes or so until thickened.
5. Stir in the grated cheese, cook until the cheese has melted.

Assembly

1. Lightly grease an oven dish or foil tray approximately 30 X 25 X 6 cm and starting with a small amount of meat sauce layer sauce and lasagne sheets with a sprinkle of cheese on top of meat sauce each time, finishing with meat sauce.
   
2. I think that 3 layers of pasta sheets makes a good lasagne, it is a good ratio of pasta to sauce and it cuts really well.
3. Top with white sauce and grated mozzarella or a blend of pizza cheese.
   
4. Bake in preheated oven @ 160 C for approximately 1 hour until pasta is cooked and the cheese is golden.
   

Notes

I know the Sweet Chilli Sauce isn’t a typical lasagne ingredient but it was a tip from a friend and it works.

Can be frozen cooked or uncooked or in portions when cooked.