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Improv-Lasagne

A community recipe by

Not tested or verified by Nigella.com

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Introduction

I made this on a wednesday evening when I actually ment to make eggplant parmesan, but store was out of eggplant, so bought some courgette and minced meat instead. Boyfriend and guest both liked it (and me too, actually), so here's the recipe.

I made this on a wednesday evening when I actually ment to make eggplant parmesan, but store was out of eggplant, so bought some courgette and minced meat instead. Boyfriend and guest both liked it (and me too, actually), so here's the recipe.

Ingredients

Serves: 3

Metric Cups

For the Tomato Sauce

  • 300 grams minced beef
  • 2 cans tinned tomatoes
  • 1 medium onion (chopped)
  • 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
  • 1 red pepper (diced)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh basil
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1 pinch of pepper
  • red chillies (to taste)

For the Bechamel Topping

  • 50 grams butter
  • 50 grams flour
  • 400 millilitres milk
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1 pinch of pepper
  • nutmeg
  • 1 courgette (thinly sliced)
  • 250 grams mozzarella (thinly sliced)
  • grated Parmesan (or gruyere for topping)
  • fresh basil (optional)

For the Tomato Sauce

  • 11 ounces ground beef
  • 2 cans tinned tomatoes
  • 1 medium onion (chopped)
  • 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
  • 1 red bell pepper (diced)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh basil
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1 pinch of pepper
  • red chiles (to taste)

For the Bechamel Topping

  • 2 ounces butter
  • 2 ounces flour
  • 14 fluid ounces milk
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1 pinch of pepper
  • nutmeg
  • 1 zucchini (thinly sliced)
  • 9 ounces mozzarella (thinly sliced)
  • grated Parmesan (or gruyere for topping)
  • fresh basil (optional)

Method

Improv-Lasagne is a community recipe submitted by annm and has not been tested by Nigella.com so we are not able to answer questions regarding this recipe.

Tomato-sauce:

  • In a big pan melt a little butter (or use olive oil) and fry the onion and garlic until they've softened a little.
  • Then add the red pepper and the minced meat and let fry until the meat is browned. Add the tomato's, dried basil and oregano, balsamic vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper and sambal oelek (to taste).
  • Bring to the boil and then let it simmer until the sauce has the right consistency. Taste it again and correct the seasoning as you see fit.
  • Béchamel-sauce:

  • melt the butter in a saucepan Add the flour and let it bake for a couple of minutes (until it smells like biscuit).
  • Add the milk and stir well, bring to the boil and let it cook for a couple of minutes.
  • Add salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste Fry the courgette in a frying pan adding a bit of pepper and salt.
  • Now start assembling the lasagne: I started of with a layer of béchamel, then some pasta sheet followed by a layer of tomato, then the courgette and mozzarella, again a bit of béchamel, pasta and the last layer has to be tomato, then sprinkle the cheese on top an put in the oven (preheated at 200°C) for about 30 minutes. Enjoy!
  • Tomato-sauce:

  • In a big pan melt a little butter (or use olive oil) and fry the onion and garlic until they've softened a little.
  • Then add the red bell pepper and the minced meat and let fry until the meat is browned. Add the tomato's, dried basil and oregano, balsamic vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper and sambal oelek (to taste).
  • Bring to the boil and then let it simmer until the sauce has the right consistency. Taste it again and correct the seasoning as you see fit.
  • Béchamel-sauce:

  • melt the butter in a saucepan Add the flour and let it bake for a couple of minutes (until it smells like biscuit).
  • Add the milk and stir well, bring to the boil and let it cook for a couple of minutes.
  • Add salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste Fry the zucchini in a frying pan adding a bit of pepper and salt.
  • Now start assembling the lasagne: I started of with a layer of béchamel, then some pasta sheet followed by a layer of tomato, then the zucchini and mozzarella, again a bit of béchamel, pasta and the last layer has to be tomato, then sprinkle the cheese on top an put in the oven (preheated at 200°C) for about 30 minutes. Enjoy!
  • Tell us what you think