Lasagna alla Bolognese

By John, 21 July, 2024
Region
Italy
Description

"Lasagna Bolognese"Lasagna is a wonderful Italian dish, an opportunity for all sorts of creativity, but there are two especially classic lasagna recipes that you should know about: this Lasagna alla Bolognese, and the Lasagna Napoletana. The Neapolitan version includes sausage and meatballs, fresh mozzarella and ricotta, it's quite a complex production! The Bolognese version is far simpler, just lasagna noodles, Ragu alla Bolognese,  Bechamel Sauce, and grated cheese, but with quality ingredients it is exquisite in its own classical way.

Yield
12 Servings
Preparation time
30 minutes
Cooking time
45 minutes
Total time
1 hour, 15 minutes
Ingredients
1 lb Lasagna noodles
1 q Ragu Bolognese
1 q Bechamel Sauce
2 c Fresh grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
Instructions
  1. Boil a pasta pot of salted water and cook the noodles according to the directions on the package. When they are done, remove them and let them drip on a baking rack.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350.
  3. Lightly oil the bottom of a 9" x 13" lasagna pan.
  4. Spread a cup of ragu on the bottom of the pan.
  5. Lay noodles on top to cover. Trim the noodles with a knife as needed to keep it neat. 
  6. Now eyeball the pan and decide if you can do one or two more layers, remembering that you willl top it with more filling. You may have leftover noodles.
  7. Spread another cup of ragu on top, then a cup of the Bechamel sauce, then a half-cup of grated cheese. Don't neglect the corners. Lay more noodles on top and gauge your remaining ingredients and room in the pan. 
  8. Finish with the last of the ragu, the last of the Bechamel, and the last of the grated cheese. 
  9. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. It should be turning golden on top.
  10. Finish under the broiler on low for 1-2 minutes, or until it just starts to brown.
  11. Let it rest for 15 minutes before cutting, or cool completely and refrigerate or freeze until needed. To reheat, cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 for about 45 minutes if it was in the fridge and twice that if it was frozen.
Source

Traditional