It was just GORGEOUS and I took 1752 pictures.
... Yes...
So, you will understand I'll need some times to make a choice and to post SOME OF THEM :)
For the moment, I want to introduce you, maybe not the best lasagna in the world, but surely, they would be on the podium.
My oldest sister cooks perfect lasagna !
Each time she invites us to eat, she ask for what we want to eat, reply is still the same : Lasagna !
Which impeach her to be creative, you're right. But life is unfair, we already know it.
Some weeks ago, my parents in law came for diner and I wanted to make them lasagna. I had no choice : To capture my sister and obligate her to cook those lasagna for me...
I have to say the idea seemed great for a while. But she made judo when she was young and I was afraid to not run fast enough ...
Or to make them BY MYSELF !!
... And that's what I did, because I'm a winner !! ... And a poor runner.
So here what you'll need, friends :
- 1 kilograms of ground beef
- 500 grams of sausages meat
- 1 liter of béchamel sauce
- 1 liter of tomato sauce
- 500 grams of dry lasagna
- 1 onion
- 2 cloves of garlic
- Grated cheese
- Herbes de provence or dry thyme, basil and oregano
- Salt and pepper.
Your oven must be preheated at 180°C (Th 6 / 350°F)
Just remember a very important thing : Pasta, no matter their kind, pasta must be GENEROUS. Like an italian mamma.
Better have more than less.
Never spare with pasta. Never.
Step 1 :
Cut you onion in slices and make it brown on a low fire, with a pinch of salt, for 5 minutes. Then add garlic.
Step 2 :
When they are golden, add meat and let it brown until it's cooked.
Step 3 :
Pour tomato sauce, herbes de Provence, salt and pepper and let simmer 10-15 minutes on a low fire.
Step 4 :
... Or where I kill the idea of French Béchamel ! ... Ladies and Gentlemen, believe me, I'm really sorry to break this dream BUT french women too are always in hurry, working, having children, husband, laundry and, and, and ... Let me cry five minutes and I'll be back.
Well, so if you've got time to prepare the TRUE béchamel, right, you're just perfect. I'm not and some industrial ones are worthy for what I needed.
So, here my béchamel's recipe : Cook it the way it said on the box !
Well, just to say I've done something, I add a pinch of dry garlic and a pinch of ground nutmeg.
Step 5 :
Now, you can begin to prepare your lasagna. No need to make them cook before.
A layer of dry pasta ...
... a layer of meat/tomato sauce,
... A layer of béchamel,
And grated cheese.
Then do it again : dry lasagna, meat, béchamel and cheese. Until the top of the dish. End with meat/tomato sauce and grated cheese.
In the oven for 35 minutes.
Bon appétit, les amis !
Recapitulative for 10 persons :
- 1 kilograms of ground beef
- 500 grams of sausages meat
- 1 liter of béchamel sauce
- 1 liter of tomato sauce
- 500 grams of dry lasagna
- 1 onion
- 2 cloves of garlic
- Grated cheese
- Herbes de provence or dry thyme, basil and oregano
- Salt and pepper.
Your oven must be preheated at 180°C (Th 6 / 350°F)
Cut you onion in slices and make it brown on a low fire, with a pinch of salt, for 5 minutes. Then add garlic.
When they are golden, add meat and let it brown until it's cooked.
Pour tomato sauce, herbes de Provence, salt and pepper and let simmer 10-15 minutes on a low fire.
Here my béchamel's recipe : Cook it the way it said on the box !
Prepare your lasagna.
A layer of dry pasta, a layer of meat/tomato sauce, a layer of béchamel, and grated cheese.
Then do it again : dry lasagna, meat, béchamel and cheese. Until the top of the dish. End with meat/tomato sauce and grated cheese.
In the oven for 35 minutes.
Dear Axelle-Welcome Back! I look forward to your stories and photographs. What a wonderful trip. Thank you for greeting us with LASAGNA. Je l'adore. This recipe I will make: I've never put bechamel sauce in lasagna. Wow. Yum. I think most americans must make our own because I never see it in the store. I've made bechamel a few times and it's not so long to do. Just enough time for a daughter to make a salad while you stir the sauce! And another to set the table. So your sister did not mind that you shared the recipe with us? Please thank her! Bienvenu! Regards-Jamie
ReplyDeleteDear Jamie, thank you for your nice words :)
DeleteSometimes ago, I've watched a Giada di Laurentiis show and she cooked lasagna with béchamel too. Maybe this is because she studied cooking in French School :)
For years, I made my own béchamel but I swear, now, here, we find very good one where you just need to add milk. So I just use this one now ! Everything is good to save time !! :)
I'll thank my sister for you, Jamie and thank you for your comment !
Are you by any chance looking for a job? I'm looking for an at-home cook who could make me these lasagnas at least once a week! ;)
ReplyDeleteCa marche ! I'm really looking for changing my life, at the moment ! :D And cooking is a very relaxing thing I could work for ! :)
DeleteThis looks FANTASTIC! I LOVE lasagna, and I think the use of herbs de provence and bechamel is wonderful. I am now officially craving lasagna for breakfast!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, T.W :)
DeleteI'm very surprised because I was convinced béchamel was a part of the traditional recipe. But you're lightening my curiosity and I'm going to find the Italian traditional recipe ! :)