
Ingredients
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 300g sausage meat
- 0.5 onion, finely chopped
- 1 carrot, finely chopped
- 1 fennel, finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed or grated
- 2 tbsp ’nduja
- 1 tbsp tomato purée
- 0.5 tsp fennel seeds
- 0.25 tsp chilli flakes
- 1 tsp red wine vinegar
- 1 (400g) tin chopped tomatoes
- 25g salted butter
- 25g plain flour
- 300ml whole milk
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
- 30g parmesan, grated
- 6 fresh egg lasagne sheets
- 1 large handful basil leaves
- 75g mozzarella, sliced or grated
Method
Step 1
To make the ragu, heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Crumble in the sausagemeat; cook for 3-5 mins, stirring occasionally, until browned.Step 2
Add the onion, carrot, fennel and a pinch of salt. Cook for 5 mins, stirring now and then, until softened.Step 3
Stir in the garlic, ’nduja, tomato purée, fennel seeds and chilli; cook for 2-3 mins. Add the vinegar and chopped tomatoes, then half-fill the tin with water and slosh it into the pan. Add another a pinch of salt; simmer for 20 mins, until reduced.Step 4
Meanwhile, make the bechamel. Melt the butter in a pan over a medium heat. Whisk in the flour to make a thick paste – this is called a roux. Cook for 2 mins until lightly browned, then gradually whisk in the milk. Continue whisking constantly for 5-10 mins, until the sauce thickens. Stir in the nutmeg and 20g of the parmesan; season with salt and black pepper. Remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly.Step 5
Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6. Take a deep ovenproof dish (about 20 cm x 15 cm), dollop some ragu into the base, then top with a lasagne sheet; repeat 3 more times, then top with half the bechamel and some basil. Layer on another pasta sheet, followed by the remaining ragu, and finish with a final layer of pasta. Spoon over the remaining bechamel, then top with the mozzarella and remaining 10g parmesan.Step 6
Bake for 35-40 mins, until bubbling and golden. Leave to stand for 15 mins before serving, topped with the remaining basil.Step 7
Recipe Tip: Allow a little extra time for resting.