Friday, June 10, 2005

Mami's Bolognese

Serves 4-6

2 tsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 onions, chopped
1kg minced beef
1 tbsp mixed herbs (or to taste)
2 sachets tomato paste
2 x 400g cans whole or chopped tomatoes
1 bottle tomato sauce (for pasta, not ketchup!)
2 bay leaves
sea salt & cracked black pepper
additional fresh herbs of your choice, eg flat-leaf parsley

Heat oil in a large saucepan over high heat.
Add garlic & onion & cook for 3 minutes or until just soft.
Add mince & cook, stirring, until brown.
Add mixed herbs & tomato paste, stir till evenly dispersed & then stir through tomatoes.
Add tomato sauce, then fill bottle with water & add to sauce with bay leaves.
Simmer sauce for 1 hour or until thickened to your liking.
Stir through salt, pepper & extra herbs & serve over pasta or use in lasagne (below).
Note: if you have limited time, omit water & simmer for 15-20 minutes.

Lasagne

Serves 4

1 quantity bolognese sauce
500g fresh lasagne sheets
3/4 cup grated mozzarella
white sauce
80g butter
4 tbsp plain flour
4 cup milk
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
sea salt & cracked black pepper

Make bolognese sauce & set aside.
To make white sauce, place butter in saucepan over medium heat & allow to melt.
Add flour & stir to smooth paste.
Whisk in milk & stir until sauce has boiled & thickened.
Stir in parmesan & add salt & pepper.
Set aside to cool to room temperature.
Preheat oven to 190ÂșC.
Grease 20cmx20cm square ovenproof dish & line with some of lasagne sheets.
Thinly spread over 1/4 of bolognese sauce, cover with more sheets, then spoon over 1/4 of white sauce.
Repeat layers, finishing with white sauce.
Sprinkle with mozzarella & bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown & cooked.

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