Italian Lasagna

source: http://assets.sport.ro/assets/foodstory/2013/09/16/image_galleries/2951/internetul-a-decis-cea-mai-buna-reteta-de-lasagna-din-lume_size1.jpg

Lasagna, next to pasta, is the epitome of Italian cuisine. There are numerous variations of lasagne with ingredients used varying according the region or local custom. Common to every type however, are lawyers of flat or curley noodles, separated by rich sauces with and a focus ingredient being meat, fish, or vegetables.

The following recipe is a simple, go to guide to make your own home-cooked, delicious beef lasagna.





Serves: 4 // Total Time: 2h 20 minutes

Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 brown onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 600g lean beef mince
- 737 g bottle tomato pasta sauce
- ½ cup red wine
- 1 teaspoon caster sugar
- 250g packet dried lasagne past sheets
- 2 cups thickened cream
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Heat oil in a heavy-based saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until onion is tender. Add mince. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up mince, for 8 minutes or until browned. Add sauce, wine and sugar. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, for 40 minutes or until sauce has thickened. Remove from heat.
2. Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Lightly grease a 7cm-deep, 25cm (base) square baking dish. Spoon 1/2 cup mince mixture over base of dish. Arrange one quarter of pasta sheets over meat mixture, breaking sheets to fit. Spoon one-third of the remaining mince mixture over pasta. Drizzle with one-quarter of the cream. Sprinkle with one-quarter of the cheddar cheese. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining pasta sheets, cream and cheddar cheese. Sprinkle with parmesan. Cover loosely with foil.
3. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil. Bake for 15 minutes or until pasta is tender and cheese golden. Stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Remember, you can substitute any of these ingredients with variations that suit your taste buds! Instead of beef you can use vegetables like spinach, mushroom, eggplants, leeks, zucchini or fresh tomato. You can even use fish!

If that was too confusing to follow try out this video!

References:
http://www.delallo.com/articles/lasagna-lasagne**
http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/23415/beef+lasagne