Meat Lasagna

During my school days, I stumbled upon this delightful cuisine at a restaurant, and its taste lingered in my memory. Years later, after I got married, I decided to recreate it at home using recipes I found online. Initially, it felt overwhelming—lasagna sheets and cheese weren’t just hard to find in India, but they were expensive too! However, after years of experimenting, I discovered some great alternatives that work just as well. Now, this dish has become a family favorite. 😊👍

Ingredients:

For the Lasagna Sheets or Pasta:

• Lasagna sheets (or boiled pasta as an alternative)

For the White Sauce (Béchamel Sauce):

• Butter: 1 tbsp
• Flour: 1 tbsp
• Milk: 500 ml
• Pepper powder: 2 tsp
• Parsley: 1 tsp
• Nutmeg powder: A pinch
• Crushed garlic: 1 clove
• Mozzarella/Cheddar cheese (grated): 200 g (or 100 g each)
• Salt: To taste

For the Meat Sauce:

• Minced meat: ½ kg
• Onion (chopped): 1 medium-sized
• Garlic (chopped): 4 cloves
• Basil (dried or fresh): 1 tsp
• Oregano (dried or fresh): 1 tsp
• Red pepper flakes: 1 tsp
• Pepper powder: 1 tsp
• Diced tomato: 1 (optional)
• Tomato paste: ½ cup
• Tomato sauce: 1 tbsp
• Water: ½ cup

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Directions

To Prepare the White Sauce:

1. Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add flour and stir continuously until a smooth paste forms.
2. Gradually pour in the milk while stirring to avoid lumps.
3. Add crushed garlic, salt, parsley, pepper powder, and nutmeg.
4. Stir in half of the grated cheese. Continue stirring until the sauce thickens slightly, then remove from heat and let it cool.

To Prepare the Meat Sauce:

1. Heat oil in a large pan and sauté the chopped onion until it turns golden brown. Add the chopped garlic and sauté for another minute.
2. Add diced tomatoes (if using) and cook until they turn mushy.
3. Mix in the minced meat and cook until it is fully done.
4. Add basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, pepper powder, and salt.
5. Stir in tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Let it simmer for a few minutes, then remove from heat.

Layering the Lasagna:

1. Grease a casserole or baking dish with butter.
2. Spread a layer of meat sauce at the bottom.
3. Add a layer of lasagna sheets (or boiled pasta) over the meat sauce.
4. Spread a layer of white sauce over the lasagna sheets.
5. Repeat the layering process until the top layer is meat sauce. Finish with a generous layer of cheese.

Baking:

• Preheat the oven to 190°C.
• Bake the lasagna for 20-30 minutes or until the cheese on top is golden and bubbly.

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Tips for Perfect Lasagna:

• If the sauces become too thick, add a bit of warm water and stir over medium heat until smooth.
• Adjust garlic, spices, and herbs to suit your taste.
• Tomatoes are optional. You can use more tomato paste or puree as an alternative.
• Pre-boiled lasagna sheets can save time (follow the instructions on the packaging). Boiled pasta, such as penne, works as an excellent substitute when lasagna sheets aren’t available.

Enjoy your homemade lasagna with family and friends—it’s sure to become a favorite in your kitchen too! 🍴✨