Fall is by far my most favorite time to cook. The recipes are so warm, hearty, and comforting. Italian is kind of the epitome of all these descriptors. I found this recipe for Lasagna Bolognese in my Fall Entertaining edition of Cooks Illustrated.
Bolognese is different from the Americanized lasagna we typically come across. Rather than using mozzarella or ricotta as a filler, it has a creamy Bechamel sauce made from a mixture of milk and flour. It was absolutely delicious, with perfect portions of meat, cheese, and creamy sauce.
Ingredients:
Meat Sauce:
1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped
1 medium celery, chopped
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 28 ounce can whole tomatoes
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
8 ounces ground beef
8 ounces ground pork
8 ounces ground veal
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 cups white cooking wine
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Bechamel Sauce:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup flour
4 cups whole milk
3/4 teaspoon salt
Noodles and Cheese:
1 package “no-boil” lasagna noodles
2 cups parmesan, grated
Recipe:
Process chopped carrot, celery, and onion in food processor until finely chopped. Transfer to bowl.
Chop whole tomatoes in food processor until finely chopped.
Heat butter in large, deep pot over medium heat. Add carrot, celery, and onion and stir to coat. Cook for about five minutes, stirring every now and then.
Add ground meats and cook for about a minute, using a large spoon to break up meat into small pieces.
Add milk and simmer to cook for 20 to 30 minutes, continuing to break up meat with spoon. Add white wine and simmer for 20-30 minutes more.
Stir in tomato paste. Add chopped tomatoes, salt and pepper, and simmer for about 15 minutes, until meat sauce thickens. Let cool afterwards.
As the meat sauce simmer, melt butter for Bechamel sauce in medium to large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and cook for one to two minutes, whisking the entire time. In small batches, whisk in milk. Bring to a boil, continuing to whisk. Add salt, reduce heat to medium/low. Simmer for ten minutes, stirring constantly. (Make sure milk doesn’t burn at bottom of pan!) Transfer to another bowl and let cool.
Add 3/4 cup Bechamel sauce to meat sauce and stir. Cover lasagna noodles with hot water and let soak for about five minutes. Remove noodles and place on paper towels. Spray 13 in. by 9 in. baking dish with non-stick spray. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
To prepare lasagna, pour about 1 cups meat sauce in baking dish. Even out with spatula. Place three noodles on top, close together, but not touching.
Spread 1 1/4 cups meat sauce over noodles, (not entire pan, just to the edge of the noodles). Pour 1/3 cup Bechamel sauce over meat sauce.
Sprinkle 1/2 cup parmesan on top. Repeat layering of noodles, meat sauce, bechamel, and cheese, until you come to the final layer of noodles.
Add remaining Bechamel, then remaining parmesan.
Spray a sheet of aluminum foil with non-stick cooking spray, cover lasagna dish, and bake for 30 minutes.
Take off cover and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Remove from heat, let cool for 15 minutes, slice, and enjoy!