Lasagne
- 3 1/2 to 4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus 1/2 cup for dusting the work surface
- 4 extra-large eggs
- 6 ounces frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and squeezed very dry and chopped very fine
- 1/2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 recipe ragu Bolognese, recipe follows
- 8 ounces Parmigiano-Reggiano, for grating
- 1 recipe bechamel sauce, recipe follows
- Mound 3 1/2 cups of the flour in the center of a large wooden cutting board.
- Make a well in the middle of the flour and add the eggs, spinach, and the olive oil.
- Using a fork, beat together the spinach, eggs, and oil, and begin to incorporate the flour, starting with the inner rim of the well.
- As you expand the well, keep pushing the flour up from the base of the mound to retain the well shape.
- The dough will come together when half of the flour is incorporated.
- Start kneading the dough with both hands, using the palms of your hands.
- Once you have a cohesive mass, remove the dough from the board and scrape up and discard any leftover bits.
- Lightly reflour the board and continue kneading for 6 more minutes.
- The dough should be elastic and a little sticky.
- Wrap the dough in plastic and allow to rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.
- Divide the dough into 3 equal portions and roll each out to the thinnest setting on a pasta rolling machine.
- Bring about 6 quarts of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons salt.
- Set up an ice bath next to the stove top.
- Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the pasta into 20 (5-inch squares) and drop into the boiling water.
- Cook 1 minute, until tender.
- Drain well and refresh in the ice bath.
- Once cooled, drain the pasta squares on towels and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a brownie pan, assemble the lasagne, beginning with a layer of ragu, a sprinkling of grated Parmigiano, a layer of pasta, a layer of bechamel, and then again a layer of ragu, a sprinkling of grated Parmigiano etc.
- until all sauce and pasta are used up.
- The top layer should be pasta with bechamel over it.
- Top the lasagne with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and bake in the oven until the edges are browned and the sauces are bubbling, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Remove and allow to cool for at least 20 minutes before serving with a dusting of Pasrnigiano.
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 medium onions, finely chopped
- 4 stalks celery, finely chopped
- 1 carrot, scraped and finely chopped
- 5 cloves garlic, sliced
- 1 pound ground veal
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/4 pound pancetta, minced
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 (16-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand, with the juices
- 1 cup dry white wine
- Salt and pepper
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 3 cups milk
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- In a 6 to 8-quart, heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat.
- Add the onion, celery, carrot, and garlic and sweat over medium heat until vegetables are translucent.
- Add veal, pork, beef, and pancetta to the vegetables, brown over high heat, stirring to keep meat from sticking together for about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Add the milk and simmer until almost dry, about 10 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes and simmer 15 minutes.
- Add the wine and brodo, bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, until flavors are developed.
- Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and remove from the heat.
- Yield: 6 1/2 cups, about 10 to 12 servings
- In a medium saucepan, heat butter until melted.
- Add flour and stir until smooth.
- Over medium heat, cook until light golden brown, about 6 to 7 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat milk in separate pan until just about to boil.
- Add milk to butter mixture 1 cup at a time, whisking continuously until very smooth and bring to a boil.
- Cook 10 minutes and remove from heat.
- Season with salt and nutmeg and set aside.
- Yield: 3 cups
flour, eggs, spinach, extravirgin olive oil, ragu bolognese, bechamel sauce
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mario-batali/lasagne-recipe.html (may not work)