Wondernonie’s Lasagne

Meat Ragù Ingredients

500 g ground beef (or lamb, chicken, etc.)1 tbsp olive oil2 cups onions (finely diced)7 cloves garlic (minced)2 sticks celery (finely diced)1 large carrot (finely diced)1 large red or green bell pepper (finely diced)1 cup mushrooms (finely diced)3 large tomatoes (diced)3 tbsp tomato paste1 tbsp dried oregano1 tsp dried basil1 tsp Worcestershire sauce1 cup grape juice (or chicken broth)2 tsp salt (to taste)1 tsp red chilli flakes1/2 tsp ground black pepper (to taste)

Steps Make Ragù

In a large pan, heat oil on medium high.Add meat & leave it to sear for 2 mins before stirring & cooking for another 2 mins.Add celery, carrot, pepper & mushrooms, cook for 5 mins.Add both types of tomatoes & cook for 5 mins till tomatoes break down.Add the rest of the ingredients & cook for 30 mins.Taste to adjust seasoning & remove from heat.

Bechamel Sauce

3 tbsp butter3 tbsp AP flour5 cups milk1/2 tsp salt1/4 tsp ground black pepper1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

Steps Make Sauce

In a pot on medium heat, melt butter & add flour, cook for 10 mins (whisking continuously) until it turns light brown.Add milk (whisking continuously) & cook for 2 mins.Add the rest of the ingredients, whisk, taste to adjust seasoning & cook for 2 more mins.

Lasagna

8-12 lasagna sheets2 cups mozzarella cheese (grated)

Finsihing

To assemble, add 1 cup of meat sauce onto base of a baking dish.Ladle 1 cup of bechamel sauce onto meat sauce, 1 tbsp grated mozzarella & cover completely with pasta (break into smaller pieces if needed)Repeat layering process for another 2-3 layers, end with bechamel & sprinkle remaining mozarella.Bake in a 200 deg C oven for 20 mins covered & another 20 mins uncovered.