The ultimate homemade lasagne, made with low fat mince, vegetables , pasta and creamy béchamel. Delicious.
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4
- For the ragu
- heat the olive oil in a frying pan over a low heat and fry the celery and onion until softened and golden
- Add the garlic and rosemary and fry for two more minutes
- Add the mince and cook until the liquid from the meat has been absorbed
- Add the tomatoes
- Leave the mixture uncovered to cook until meat and vegetable is cooked
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Béchamel sauce (roux)
- Gently melt butter in a saucepan
- As soon as the butter melts, add the flour and, over a medium heat and using a small pointed wooden spoon, stir quite vigorously to make a smooth, glossy paste
- Now begin adding the milk a little at a time and stir again vigorously.
- Then, when this milk is incorporated, add the next amount and continue incorporating each bit of liquid before you add the next
- When about half the milk is in, switch to a balloon whisk and start adding large amounts of milk, but always whisking briskly. Your reward will be a smooth, glossy, creamy sauce
- Now turn the heat down to its lowest setting and let the sauce cook for 5 minutes, whisking from time to time. While that's happening, taste and season with salt and freshly ground nutmeg.
- For the lasagne
- Spoon a half of the bechamel sauce into the bottom of a lasagne dish in a layer
- Place some of the pasta sheets over the top.
- Follow with a layer of ragu.
- Repeat this twice and finish with layer of pasta
- Spoon remaining of bechamel sauce and place in the oven
- cook in the oven for 30 minutes, or until golden-brown on top and completely cooked through.
I use rectangular baking dish 30 x 20 cm and each later has 3 lasagne sheets