Lasagna
A classic luxurious and hearty Lasagna, packed with meat sauce, white sauce and lots of cheese!
Ingredients
Ingredients for Meat Sauce
- 500 gm beef mince you can use chicken or lamb mince if you like
- 4 onions chopped
- 1 tsp ginger paste
- 1 tsp garlic paste
- 8 fresh tomatoes blended until smooth
- 4 tbsp tomato paste/puree
- 2 tbsp tomato sauce/ketchup
- 1 green or red capsicum chopped
- 2-3 sausages fried and chopped (optional, you can leave this out)
- 2-3 green chillies chopped
- 1 tsp sugar
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- chopped coriander
- oregano optional
- 4 tbsp oil
- chopped veggies like beans peas, carrots, sweet corn (optional, or you can use any that you like and leave the rest out)
Ingredients for White Sauce
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp flour
- 4 cups milk
- salt to taste
- white pepper powder to taste you can also use black pepper
Other Ingredients
- 12 lasagna sheets approximately
- 2-3 cups grated mozzarella and cheddar cheese
- oregano optional
- chopped coriander optional
Instructions
- First, prepare the Meat SauceHeat oil, then add the onions and fry until soft and translucent. Add the ginger and garlic pastes, and when they release their aroma, add the mince and sprinkle some black pepper over it and fry whilst breaking the bits of mince so that there are no lumps until the mince changes colour to brown.Now add the capsicum, green chillies and veggies, and sprinkle the spices of your choice (I normally add a pinch of turmeric and a tsp. of cumin powder) fry them with the mince for a few minutes, then add the chopped sausages if you’re using them, tomato paste and blended tomatoes. Cook on low heat, whilst covered, until the sauce thickens, and the mince is ready then add the ketchup, sugar and adjust salt and chilli. Sprinkle some oregano if you have it, or a bit of garam masala, squeeze the lemon juice in and sprinkle some chopped coriander, then turn off the heat. This sauce should not be dry, it should be saucy.
- Next, prepare the White SauceMelt butter in a saucepan, stir in plain flour, then cook on low heat for 5 minutes. Cooking the flour in the butter helps reduce the ‘raw’ smell of the flour so don’t skip this step! Slowly whisk in milk, if you pour the milk in too quickly you will form lumps, so add gradually whilst whisking briskly to get rid of any lumps and form a smooth roux/mixture. Then bring to the boil, whilst stirring. Turn down heat, then cook until the sauce starts to thicken and coats the back of a wooden spoon.Prepare your lasagna sheets, about 12 should be enough. Check if they need to be boiled first, or if they can be used as is. It is normally indicated on the carton. If they need to be boiled, follow the instructions on the pack and proceed to boil them for the time specified. Keep some shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese ready, my favorite combination!
- Finally, assemble the dishGrease a baking dish with some butter, then add a bit of white sauce (to prevent your lasagna from sticking to the dish), followed by some lasagna sheets. Try to avoid overlapping, you can break the lasagna sheets to fit your dish. Now pour some meat sauce, followed by white sauce and some cheese. Again add a layer of lasagna sheets, again the meat sauce and once more cover with the white sauce. You can add a third layer if your dish is deep enough. Make sure the final layer is covered with white sauce and you can sprinkle some cheese on top, and some chopped coriander and oregano if you like.Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180 C for about 40 minutes. If the top is browning too quickly, then cover it with some foil and continue baking. Once ready, remove and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes before cutting into the lasagna. This will ensure that your cuts will be neat and tidy.Enjoy your yummy lasagna!!
Salam Alaikum,
Im a new cook and I have problems in deciding the quantity of food to prepare. Could you please tell me the quantity, if I want to make the above for 2-3 people.
Jazakumullah Khair 🙂
W/Salaam, this recipe serves 6, you can either halve the ingredients to serve 2-3 people, or make the full amount and freeze the leftovers for a second meal. 🙂
Jazakumullah Khair! it turned out to be awesome!! 🙂
Asw fauzia ur recipes r awesome I only makes ur recipes nd my family love it I made ur peri peri rice,chicken buns,khowsey etc my son says Ammi ur the great cook Ammi open the hotel
hi fauzia..its look realy yummy…can u tell me wht is lasagna sheet??is it available in superstore??
Hi and thank you! Yes they are sold in the pasta section of the supermarket, they come in boxes and are basically like pasta but in the form of flat and rectangular sheets.
I want your kitchen member,thanks
you r doing good job my dear fuzaia
Fauzia u a great cook God bless u this ramadhan my husband will be fat(Inshallah)rgdz ftm shadya555
Hi Fauzia,
For the white sauce is it wheat flour or maida?
Maida.
what white pepper i have no idea what it mean
It is a spice like black pepper, only that this is white. If you don’t have it use black pepper.
tried ur lasagne recipe last week and it was very very delicious…. the filling was great. got very good comment from ma hubby nd da kids. jazakallah for the great help.
i m from india & i want to know where could i get lasagna ? is it having any other name also?
Check for it in the pasta isles at the supermarkets. Hopefully you will find it. Because it comes in thin sheets, they pack it mostly in rectangular boxes.
i just want to know which type of sheets r lasagna sheets? what material they r made of?
A type of pasta, only that it is flat and rectangular instead of the usual spaghetti or macaroni etc. The taste and texture is exactly like pasta, firm when raw, soft when cooked. 🙂
ASSALAMUALAIKUM WHERE CAN I GET LASANGNA I CAN get
Do you mean the sheets? Any supermarket, try the isle which has pastas.
are the lasagna sheets available in market ? or u have prepared them
Available in the market.
hi Fauzia..finally i summed up enuf courage to make lasagna..twas absolutely delicious..was worried abt the amt of effort that goes into it..bt once u get going doesn’t take much time..n the end result is worthwhile..reading the above queries abt the sheets,hats off to ur patience in replying ;D
Salaams! =)
Wanted to know how much lemon juice to put in the meat sauce? It says add lemon juice in the method, but doesn’t say lemon juice in the ingredients.
Also, when making the white sauce, when do we add the salt and white pepper?
Thanks in advance, can’t wait to try this recipe! My husband rarely requests me to make something, but he requested this today.. So I can’t wait to try out your recipe 😀
W/Salaam, juice of half a lemon or to taste and you can add the salt and pepper in the white sauce once it starts to thicken. 🙂
Can I use boneless chicken cut into v small pieces?
Yes you can.
How would I change this if I had ready made pasta sauce
Is the pasta sauce with any meats or just plain? If plain you can cook the mince then add the sauce into it and use as needed.
Excellent recipe!!!
MashaAllah
Asalam o alikum dear Fauzia! NEED QUICK HELP I m scarred to put the raw lagsana sheets in baking dish as mention on goody lagsana pack…can i boil naa ?isnt any harm… I want more soft & tender. Sheets?..
W/Salaam, normally if it says no need to boil, they will cook properly during baking but yes you can boil them for a couple of minutes to soften them more if you want.
asalam fauzia,
I just realized i run out of flour, can i omit or replace it with corn flour if possible?
W/Salaam, yes that is fine.
Hi, everytime I make this dish when I serve it they always fall apart, what am I doing wrong?
Hi, are you making any changes to the recipe or ingredients? What type of cheese are you using?
Grated asda cheese 🙁
what else can you use witout lasagna sheets……. becoz thats not available here….
Any flat pasta. You need lasagna sheets to make lasagna. Otherwise it would just be a pasta bake dish. 🙂
on the final layer of lasagna sheets, if i just put cheese and no white sauce, is it ok?
Yes that is fine.
My white sauce wasn’t thickening? And it went Brownish even though I had it on low for five mins?
Did you by any chance burn the butter or the flour? It should not turn brown unless that has happened….
Thank you for replying, yes I think that’s what happened but everyone loved it so thank you for sharing 🙂
Do you wash your minced meat. I don’t feel like using without washing and yet when you wash so much water remains in it.
Yes I do, unless the recipe specifies not to (then also I wash the meat before mincing). To make sure all the excess water has drained out, place the mince on a strainer with a bowl underneath to catch the drippings and cover with a plate. You can even stick this into the fridge so the meat does not get spoilt by being left out too long. Leave it that way until every last drop of water drains out, normally it takes about an hour at the most.
Jazakum Allah Hayr
can i replace lasagna sheets wth sambusa sheets?
No the lasagna sheets are very different from samosa sheets.
Salams..first i want to say that your recipees are great mashaAllah..can i use macaroni for this recipee instead of lasagna sheets?
W/Salaam, yes you can.
i don’t like white sauce so what if i do not add white sauce????
Yes that is fine.
Asalaam Alaikum, Fauzia 🙂
I plan on making this for dinner tonight and it’ll be my first try at making Lasagna. I just have one confusion about the baking time. I recently got a fan-assisted electric oven and from what I’ve read, these ovens usually cook pretty fast. I’m not sure if you have any experience with electric ovens but could you recommend a baking time for this kind of oven? Or is the cooking better if I use it without the fan?
Also, I got the Bechamel Mix for the white sauce. Could I use that instead or should I just go with your white sauce recipe?
Thanks alot, sister Fauzia! 🙂
W/Salaam, my oven is electric and fan-assisted too. The same temperature works just fine for me, if you have any concerns you can reduce the temperature by 10 degrees (not more than that). Baking time should be about the same but you can check around 5-10 minutes earlier and if your lasagna is done you can take it out sooner. I prefer making the white sauce from scratch, it tends to taste better and doesn’t take long to prepare. 🙂
hey fauzia…aoa,
hey fauzia…aoa,
just a quick question…i got the lasagna sheets…but when i came home i discovered that they are instant lasagna sheets…and its written no precooking required and one shud put them directly in the oven..do u think they will work or do i need to buy new ones..???
Hi, those are fine, just dip
Hi, those are fine, just dip them in hot water for about a minute or two, even though it says they are instant. That will help soften them enough so that they absorb moisture properly and cook nicely during baking.
Do u get these sheet in uk ..
Do u get these sheet in uk … In pasta section plz let me know sister
Yes they are easily available
Yes they are easily available in the UK.
Can i make lasgna wirh out
Can i make lasgna wirh out oven
Yes you can, use the stove
Yes you can, use the stove top method.
can we use Pyrex dish in
can we use Pyrex dish in stone oven or pan stand oven???
You can if it is a heatproof
You can if it is a heatproof good quality pyrex. If you are unsure then do not risk it.
Salam Fauzia
Salam Fauzia
I have waitrose lasagnia red sauce without meat in it. For the quantity of meat specified in this recipe, how much sauce should I use?
thanks
W/Salaam, sorry I do not know
W/Salaam, sorry I do not know that sauce so am not sure how much of it would be enough.
Thankyou for the recipe.. i
Thankyou for the recipe.. i really love your recipes..i have one question for the lasagna. The box of lasagna i have says that after arranging the lasagna sheets you have to put 2 tblspn water and than the meat sauce and white sauce.
is it necessary to put the water?
Thanks Zahra! Different
Thanks Zahra! Different brands of lasagna have different instructions. I would not like to add water between the lasagna sheets but then if that is what the box indicates then maybe you should try it once before altering. You could pre-boil them for just a few minutes or make the meat sauce a bit saucier to compensate for the water if you are hesitant about adding water in the recipe.
I have a quick question.
I have a quick question.
Can I make the lasagna and set it in the plate and keep in the fridge, but bake it the next day? Will the taste or texture change?Please let me know. thanks
That is fine, it will be ok.
That is fine, it will be ok.
hi,do u have to use
hi,do u have to use mozzarella cheese? can cheddar cheese only do?
Hi, I find that mozzarella
Hi, I find that mozzarella tends to add that stretchy gooey quality that we love in lasagnas and pizzas. You can use cheddar alone but it will not be as delicious in my taste. 🙂
8 tomatoes do you remove the
8 tomatoes do you remove the skin? if i were to use chopped tomato can instead should i just use one or two?
You can remove the skins if
You can remove the skins if you want, I normally just blend the lot. For canned tomatoes I would use 2 cans.
A pretty silly question, but
A pretty silly question, but how to determine that the Lasagne is cooked and ready to be removed from the oven?
As always, thanks a lot!!
Not a silly question at all.
Not a silly question at all. Well, since all (or most) of the components are precooked, normally 30-45 minutes are sufficient to set everything and finish off cooking the pasta/lasagna sheets. When you get the lasagna out, it should be bubbly and golden. Do not cut into it right away coz it will be runny, it needs to sit for some minutes and cool to make sure everything sets.
Salam fauzia,
Salam fauzia,
Im using marinara sauce instead of making the sauce. Could u tell me how much I’d have to use for this recipe?
W/Salaam, it would be hard
W/Salaam, it would be hard for me to estimate because I do not know the thickness of the sauce or how many layers you are making. Just use as much as will be required to make up all the layers. Probably around 5-6 cups.
Asak fauzia…your recipes
Asak fauzia…your recipes are wonderful…i wanted to know if its possible to make this recipe in microwave or it has to be baked only in the oven?
W/Salaam, thank you and I
W/Salaam, thank you and I bake this in the oven. 🙂
Please kindly revert to my
Please kindly revert to my query.
salams…. our lasagna sheets
salams…. our lasagna sheets paking state thus: the sheets do not require boiling.also it instructs us to use bolognise sauce abit more liquid than normal consistency. how to make bolognise sauce ? or can i use ur meat sauce instead if can how should the thikness of the meat sauce be? pls help me. jzk.
W/Salaam, yes you can use the
W/Salaam, yes you can use the sauce I have given above. It will be the right consistency. I tend to preboil the sheets just for a couple of minutes if it says no need to boil. Just to make sure they are perfectly cooked. 🙂
jazakallah 4 ur advice
jazakallah 4 ur advice
Salam. First I want to tell u
Salam. First I want to tell u ur kabsa recipie is a hITTTT . I Made it yesterday. Secondly plz tell me how much tomatoes and onion in grams u used for lasagne mince… Around 500 grams each?
W/Salaam, thanks! And yes
W/Salaam, thanks! And yes about 400-500gm.
Salam Fauzia
Salam Fauzia
Can i skip cheese from this recipe as i am lactose intolerant. For milk i will add soy milk.
Thanks
W/Salaam, yes you can
W/Salaam, yes you can although lasagnas are known for their creamy cheesy filling. 🙂
Is there an alternative I can
Is there an alternative I can use instead of cheese?
Sorry I do not know of a
Sorry I do not know of a cheese alternative.
which lasagna sheets did you
which lasagna sheets did you buy? san-remo or panzani?
Neither of those, I use a
Neither of those, I use a brand called Divella (I think). But then again there are so many pasta brands all over the world, whichever one is available to you should be fine.
which baking dish i hav to
which baking dish i hav to use? can i use a glass dish?
Yes that is fine, make sure
Yes that is fine, make sure it is oven proof.
as salaam alaikum 🙂
as salaam alaikum 🙂
I made the lasagna an hour ago , how do I heat it ?
W/Salaam, warm it in the
W/Salaam, warm it in the microwave.
Hi Fauzia, can I use a
Hi Fauzia, can I use a sufuria to bake instead? As I am to make this dish for a friend and she doesn’t have a baking dish or glass dish
Hi, yes you can although
Hi, yes you can although baking tomato dish in a sufuria sometimes makes the tomato part a bit too sour.
A/Salam
A/Salam
If I use a 14oz. jar of tomato sauce (which I normally use on pizza) then how many tomatoes should I use?
About 2-3 cups.
About 2-3 cups.
Assalamoalikum fauzia
Assalamoalikum fauzia
First of all thank you so much for this yummy recipe I have tried it and it turned out great.
My question is regarding white sauce whenever I make it be it in lasagna or mac n cheese it gets lumpy when I add milk though it doesn’t appear at the time of flour butter cooking and I add gradually. Is it that I use cold milk and make it when flour and butter is at stove.
And about lasagna sheets as my packet requires pre boil so for how much time it needs to be baked.
Thank you once again and please reply back asap as this time I have to make it for guests.
W/Salaam, thank you. Normally
W/Salaam, thank you. Normally lumps form if the milk is added too quickly and you need to be stirring or whisking constantly. Do not add all the milk, a little at a time and whisk until it is smooth then add more milk and keep whisking etc. For pre-boiled lasagna sheets, 25-30 minutes should be fine.
Hi fauzia, thanks for the
Hi fauzia, thanks for the recipe. for how long should you preheat the oven?s
Hi, until the oven
Hi, until the oven temperature reaches the mentioned temp.