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Classic, homemade lasagna!

A classic lasagna, one of my favourite dishes to make. A wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. This is a labour of love, but the results are incredible!
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 5 hours
Servings: 4 people
Course: Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients
  

For the Ragu
  • 1 kg Beef mince
  • 200 g Pancetta Diced
  • 1 Onion Large
  • 2 Carrots
  • 2 Celery Stalks
  • 3 cloves Garlic Grated or minced
  • 2 tbsp Tomato Puree
  • 150 ml Red Wine
  • 500 ml Beef Stock
  • 1 tsp Nutmeg
  • 2 Bay Leaves
  • 1 bunch Fresh Thyme
  • 3 sprigs Fresh Rosemary
  • 1 Parmesan Rind Optional, I keep them in the freezer.
  • 100 ml Milk
For the Bechemel
  • 3 tbsp Butter
  • 3 tbsp Flour
  • Whole Milk
  • 1 tsp Nutmeg
Remaining Ingredients
  • 60 g Parmesan Grated
  • 125 g Fresh Mozzerella Hand ripped
  • 200g Pasta Sheets Fresh, as per my guide: https://tomstable.com/fresh-pasta/

Method
 

Make the Ragu
  1. Heat a heavy bottomed pot to medium high and add the diced pancetta. Cook off until browned and the fat is rendered.
  2. Remove the pancetta and cook off the minced beef in batches until browned off. Season with salt and pepper and add olive oil if needed. Reove when browned.
  3. Dice your onion, carrot and celery and add them to the pot. Season with salt and cook for 3-5 minutes, until softened.
  4. Add the garlic and cook for 2 more minutes, until fragrant.
  5. Add the tomato puree and cook for a minute, until the oils start to separate.
  6. Add the red wine and cook until reduced. Add the nutmeg and mix.
  7. Add in the beef stock and mix well.
  8. Use some butchers twine to tie the thyme and rosemary together into a bouquet garni. Add this, the bay leaves and the parmesan rind and mix in.
  9. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours. Str every 30 minutes or so to stop it from burning. In the last 30 minutes, add the milk.
Make the Bechemel
  1. Add the butter to a pan over medium heat and melt.
  2. Add the four and mix, until it forms a thick paste.
  3. Gradually add the milk, a couple of splashes at a time, mixing into the flour. Do this until it gradually forms a thick liquid.
  4. Add in your nutmeg and season with salt and pepper. Mix well and cook until it coats the back of a spoon. If you run your finger across the back of the spoon, the line should remain and not fill in!
Assembling the Lasagna
  1. Take your dish and add a thin layer of ragu to the bottom.
  2. Spread a layer of bechemel sauce over the top.
  3. Scatter some grated parmesan on top.
  4. Lay your first sheet of pasta down.
  5. Repeat until you have laid down 3 sheets of pasta. For the top, put just a layer of ragu on top, and cover with the fresh mozzeralla.
  6. Heat your oven to 180°C. Add in your lasagna and bake for 20 minutes. Check it and see if the top is nice and bubbly. If not, put it back in for another 5 minutes.
    Serve and enjoy!