A delicious homemade lasagne with rich beef mince, a creamy white sauce with a golden cheese topping. A comfort food classic from Michelin Star Chef James Sommerin’s recipe book ‘A Little Help From My Friends’ which was created in support of the NHS and hospitality sector of the UK during the pandemic.
Homemade Lasagne
Preparation time 10 minutes
Cooking time 45 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
Lasagne
•2 onions, peeled and chopped
•2 carrots, peeled and chopped
•1 red pepper, de-seeded and chopped
•400g tin chopped tomatoes
•500g passata sauce
•3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
•1kg lean mince beef
•Lasagne sheets
•200g cheddar, grated
White sauce:
•50g butter
•50g flour
•1-pint milk
•2 bay leaves
•200g mature cheddar or Parmesan, grated
Method
Step 1:
Pre-heat oven to 180c.
Step 2:
In a pan, place your mince, onions, and garlic, and brown until completely coloured.
Step 3:
Drain off excess juice.
Step 4:
Add the passata, chopped tomatoes, pepper and carrot and cook slowly for 3 hours.
Step 5:
Add the basil.
Step 6:
In a separate pan, place the butter in a pan and cook for 5 minutes, mixing continuously.
Step 7:
Add the bay leaves and then gradually add the milk continuously stirring until all the milk has been absorbed.
Step 8:
Add the cheese and mix.
Step 9:
In an oven proof dish, start to layer your lasagne with first then a lasagne sheet followed by a layer of white sauce.
Step 10:
Keep repeating this process until all the mixture has been used.
Step 11:
Finish by topping with the grated cheddar.
Step 12:
Cook in the oven for approximately 45 minutes.
Step 13:
Serve with crusty garlic bread.
Chef's Tips
Lasagne tastes even better the day after cooking when left to marinate in the fridge. Simply reheat through the oven and serve with your favourite vegetables or salads.