Ultimate Beef Lasagna with Savory Bolognaise and Creamy White Sauce

Beef Lasagna

Lasagna, a classic Italian dish, marries rich, hearty layers of pasta, savory meat sauce, and creamy white sauce into a comforting and satisfying meal. This recipe walks you through each step to create a delicious beef lasagna that will delight your family and friends.

Ingredients:

Lasagna Pasta:

• 1 package lasagna noodles
• 3 tablespoons cooking oil
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Water (as needed)

Bolognaise Sauce:

• 250 grams bolognaise sauce
• 300 grams ground beef
• 1 medium carrot, finely chopped (approximately 150 grams)
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 stalks large green onions, chopped
• 2 large celery stalks, chopped
• ¾ kilogram tomato sauce
• 5 tablespoons chili sauce
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons chicken seasoning (Royco)
• 5 tablespoons sugar
• ½ teaspoon white pepper
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon dried basil

White Sauce:

• 2 cups fresh milk
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon white pepper

Topping:

• 100 grams mozzarella cheese or quick-melt cheese

Instructions:

Preparing the Lasagna Pasta:

1. In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Add cooking oil and salt.
2. Cook the lasagna noodles in batches. Do not overcrowd the pot; cook up to 5 sheets at a time for about 15 minutes.
3. Once cooked, quickly transfer the noodles to a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process, then drain and lay them on a rack to prevent sticking.

Making the Bolognaise Sauce:

1. In a pan over low heat, sauté the chopped onion and garlic until softened and translucent.
2. Add the ground beef and cook until browned.
3. Stir in the chopped carrot, green onions, and celery. Cook until the vegetables are tender and the beef is well-cooked.
4. Add the tomato sauce, chili sauce, white pepper, black pepper, and basil. Mix well.
5. Season with salt, chicken seasoning (Royco), and sugar. Adjust to taste.
6. Simmer the sauce over low heat until it begins to thicken and the flavors meld together, about 20 minutes. If necessary, add a small amount of water (about half a cup) to achieve the desired consistency.

Preparing the White Sauce:

1. In a saucepan, combine the milk, flour, salt, and white pepper. Whisk until smooth.
2. Heat the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly for about 2 minutes, until it starts to thicken. Continue stirring to prevent lumps.
3. Remove from heat once the sauce is thickened and smooth.

Assembling the Lasagna:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease your baking dish or aluminum pan.
2. In the dish, layer as follows:
   • A layer of lasagna noodles
   • A layer of bolognaise sauce
   • Another layer of lasagna noodles
   • A layer of bolognaise sauce
   • Another layer of lasagna noodles
   • A layer of white sauce
   • A final layer of bolognaise sauce
   • Top with a generous amount of shredded mozzarella cheese or quick-melt cheese.
3. For a 6x12x6 cm aluminum dish, use approximately 2 tablespoons of sauce per layer. This will yield about 10 servings.
4. Bake in a preheated oven or on a large skillet over low heat for 30 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.

Tips and Tricks:

• Prepare the bolognaise sauce in advance to save time. It can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
• If making the white sauce, ensure it does not overheat to prevent lumps.
• Lasagna noodles can stick together, so handle them carefully during cooking and assembly.
• If you are concerned about the white sauce setting too quickly, you can cook a half-recipe and test it before making the full batch.
• The assembled lasagna can be frozen before baking. When ready to eat, bake from frozen, adding an extra 15 minutes to the cooking time.

Enjoy your homemade beef lasagna, a dish that brings warmth and flavor to any meal!