Ingredients

Before you start

Method

Make the béchamel

Heat the butter in a heavy saucepan over moderately low heat until it has melted, then add the flour and cook the roux over low heat, with whisking, for 3 minutes. Add the milk in a fast stream while whisking vigorously to avoid lumps. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, whisking occasionally, 6-7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add all the grated Parmesan minus about 3 spoonfuls (set this aside for sprinkling on top of the assembled lasagna dish). Stir in the grated nutmeg.

Make the Bolognese Meat Sauce

Assemble the lasagne

If desired, you may precook the lasagne noodles. Working in batches, plunge 3-4 noodles at a time in a large pot of boiling salted water. Add one spoonful of olive oil to the water to prevent the noodles from sticking to each other. Do not cook the noodles through, but just until a bit soft, about 2-3 min, then drain them, pat dry and place them in one layer on a kitchen towel.

Spread a few spoonfuls of béchamel sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. Arrange some lasagne noodles over the sauce, without overlapping them (allow room for swelling during cooking), until the bottom of the dish is covered. Spread some spoonfuls of béchamel and meat sauce over the noodles, then cover with another layer of noodles. Repeat the layering of sauce and noodles 4 to 6 times, depending on the serving size and the shape of the baking dish. Top the lasagna with the reserved Parmesan.

Bake

Preheat the oven to 205ºC/400ºF. Bake the lasagna, uncovered, until the top is golden-brown and the sauce is bubbling, about 30-35 min (or a 20-25 min if the noodles have been precooked). Let stand 5 to 10 minutes at room temperature before cutting and serving.

Remarks

Béchamel and bolognese sauces can be made 2 days ahead, then chilled or frozen separately. Bring the sauces to room temperature before using.

The complete dish may be assembled 2 days ahead and chilled or frozen, well covered. It can be taken directly from the freezer and baked for about 1 h.

Ingredients

Before you start

Method

1. Finely chop the onion, carrot, garlic, celery, and bacon.
2. Heat the oil and butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the vegetables and bacon, then cook until softened, 5-6 min, with some stirring. Add the meat, then salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring frequently and breaking up the meat with a spoon until it loses its pink colour and starts browning, about 7-8 min.
3. Raise the heat to high, then add the milk. Cook, stirring frequently, until the liquid has evaporated, about 3 min. Add the wine, then cook, stirring frequently, until the wine has evaporated, about 3 min.
4. Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and oregano, then cover and simmer gently over low heat for at least 1 h. Stir occasionally and add some water as needed to prevent the sauce from becoming too dry. Season with additional salt and pepper. It is important to simmer all the ingredients until the sauce is thick and the beef very tender. (If you are using a pressure cooker, the cooking time is reduced to 15 min from the time it starts to spatter).

Remarks