Lasagna, made with my Homemade Bolognese Sauce from yesterday…
and refrigerated it to let the flavor improve…
This happens magically when we are all sleeping 😝
So today I can make my Lasagna!!
Get a large pan of Water on to boil!!
Add the Lasagna sheets… and some Salt… quite a bit of Salt… say, 1/8 of a cup!!
The reason you cook Pasta in the biggest pan you have is… so that when the Pasta is added…
The temperature of the Water stays fairly high… and comes back to the boil sooner rather than later!!
Add a little Olive Oil, too…
Set the timer for 10 minutes… we are only par cooking the sheets… they will finish in the oven when the Lasagna bakes!!
Now, with a wooden spoon try to separate the sheets… they will have a tendency to stick together… and then they won’t cook evenly… the Olive Oil will also help with this!!
After 10 minutes, drain and run cold Water on them…
This stops any further cooking and allows you to separate the sheets properly to a large serving platter…
If you DON’T do this, the sheets will set in the shape they are in in the colander… and you end up with a mess!!!
This way the Lasagna can dry a bit, too!!
Time to make a quick White Sauce…
Sometimes I make a Béchamel Sauce… sometimes I use a mixture of Crème Fraîche and Parmesan… freshly grated, OF COURSE… don’t go wasting good money on the sawdust they sell in a tub!!
Assembly time…
Small amount of Bolognese Sauce on the bottom…
Couple of Pasta sheets–trimmed with scissors to fit, if need be…
Crème Fraîche Parmesan mix…
Then a sprinkling MORE of Parmesan…
Followed by a pinch of Salt…
And some Pepper…
I found some Mozzarella in the fridge leftover from my Chicken Parmigiana… so, I sprinkle some of that in, too!!
Now another layer of Meat Sauce…
Then the Pasta again… I tend to lay the sheets one way, then the other… horizontal then vertical!!
You don’t have to do it, but it does help to keep things together when you cut and serve!!
More cheesey White Sauce… Parmesan…
And seasoning… and Mozzarella…
And still another layer of ALL THAT WENT BEFORE…
PASTA…
MEAT SAUCE…
ET CETERA…
Finally… end with the Mozzarella…
And “defile” this FABULOUS, but ANEMIC looking dish… with a beautiful Basil leaf drizzled with a little Oil… or NOT 😝
Bake 375 for 30 minutes covered in foil… then remove the foil and bake for a further 20 minutes…
Then remove from the oven… and VERY IMPORTANTLY…
LET STAND FOR 15 minutes before ATTEMPTING to cut and serve!!
This will help ensure a nice slice rather than a soupy MESS 😎🍷
