Lasagna with Meat

(For the vegetarians you can add up carrots, cabbage, capsicum, spinach and make this)

Lasagna, Lasagna is what I hear from my daughter often as she loves it. Its been sometime in my mind to make this dish, something or the other never got an opportunity. Finally  I made it for last nights dinner. Very filling and yummy, infact I felt it was  high on calories once in a while its okay to  have such heavy stuffs.

I have to introduce you guys to one more member of my family he is "Kooky" he such an adorable parakeet. He is all the time on my shoulder when I am at kitchen. He loves cooked pasta, macroni and loves dosa. Whilst making the Lasagna I gave him a piece look how he is enjoying that J

Lasagne  sheets- 6-8 rectangle sheets                                                                                                        Olive Oil- 2 tbsp
 

Use a big vessel and drop in lots of water, add in the olive oil. When it  boils add the lasagna sheets and let it get cooked well. It takes about 10 minutes. Drain and run it under the cold water and add a dash of olive oil to the sheets and  let it relax there J

Bechamel Sauce:

Butter : 2 tbsp

Maida/ All purpose flour – 2 tbsp

Milk – 1 cup

White pepper powder – ½ tsp

Mozzarella cheese – ¾ cup

Salt – to taste if u need only

Nutmeg powder: a pinch

In a separate pot, melt butter and mix in flour to make this sauce.  Continue mixing until it has turned slightly golden brow (Ensure you don’t burn it).  It is important to brown as we have to remove the raw floury flavour from your white bechamel sauce.  Add milk and continue mixing to avoid any lumps and anything from sticking to the base. If the sauce is too thick add more milk.  Throw in the cheese, season with salt, white pepper and nutmeg.

 Meat Layer
Minced meat/chicken/ beef  - 500gms – I used meat ***
Onion -1 big finely chopped
Garlic – 4 - 5 cloves, crushed
Olive oil -2 tbsp
Tomatoes - 4 large pureed
Red chili powder – 3/4tsp - 1tsp (totally upto you the spice level)
Black pepper powder – ½ tsp
Tomato ketchup - 6 tbsp
Sugar - 1 tsp                                                                                                                                           Celery – 1 string (I personally don’t like it so did not add – u may do it if u like)
Nutmeg powder - 1/4 tsp
Mixed Italian herbs – ¼ tsp                                                                                                                        Salt to taste    

*** Vegetarians add in the vegetables instead of the meat

Take a pan add in the olive oil, then onion – when this turns translucent  you may add in the ginger crushed and sauté for a few more minutes.

Add minced meat/chicken / beef and continue to sauté for 5  minutes. Reduce the flame and add in red chilly powder, black pepper powder, pureed tomato, tomato ketchup, sugar and salt. At this stage add in 1 cup of water if you feel it needs to be,  simmer and cook the  mince is tender and the sauce is thick.   

Stir in nutmeg powder, mixed herbs and mix well and now let this one also relax J

Lets assemble them so they are out in the form of  yummy Lasagna:

Take a oven proof dish (pyrex tray), put some olive oil and grease the tray.  First you add in a small layer of the béchamel sauce, cooked lasagna sheets, then the tomato meat layer. a bit of cheese. Continue to do  few layers and top it up with mozzarella cheese and cover  tray with foil paper.

Pre-heat oven at 220 degrees Celsius. Bake the lasagna in over for 35 minutes.  Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the top is golden brown (I Switched on the griller to get brown colour on the top).

Let it cool and you can enjoy this delicious meal J J

Latha