BEEF LASAGNE 

Ingredients:

• 500g of ground beef
• 1 big chopped onion
• 4 cloves of minced garlic
• 4 big tomatoes diced 
• Whatever vegetable you prefer. I added carrots, courgette, broccoli, mushrooms diced small size.
• Dried herbs, salt & pepper, fresh basil
• Shredded cheese
• Lasagne sheets 
• 2 table spoons of olive oil
• 4 tablespoons of butter 
• 4 tablespoons of plain flour
• 3 cups of milk 
• Salt & pepper

Instructions:

1️⃣ Preheat the oven to 180 degrees

2️⃣ Cut the tomatoes, place them in oven proof tray, drizzle some olive oil, salt and dried herbs then roast them in the oven for 15-20 minutes. 

3️⃣ In a skillet add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, fry the onions, add minced garlic then cook the meat for 10 minutes on medium heat. 

4️⃣ Add the diced vegetables to the meat, add salt & pepper and cook on low to medium heat for 15 minutes. 

5️⃣ While the meat and tomatoes are cooking, start making the roux (bechamel sauce) Melt the butter in a saucepan on low heat, add 4 tablespoons of plain flour keep stirring while adding the milk slowly. Let it simmer and occasionally stir until thickened. And a pinch of salt and dried oregano. 

6️⃣ Blend the tomatoes and add to the meat and mix. 

7️⃣ This step is optional but I personally prefer to do it as it shortens the cooking time. Boil water and dip the lasagne sheet for few seconds to soften.

8️⃣ In a baking dish start layering: Add a layer of the meat sauce, then roux, then lasagne. Keep layering 3-4 layers last layer being the roux and meat sauce. 

9️⃣ Place in the oven for 15 minutes then add shredded cheese. Mozzarella cheese is best. And cook for another 5-10 minutes. Leave it to cool for 10 minutes before you serve.  

Tips: 

• I roast the tomatoes and blend them instead of using canned/ bottled tomato sauce. 

• Soften the lasagne sheet by dipping in hot water for few seconds. 

• Cover the lasagne with baking sheet to avoid the top layer hardening.