Mamas Lasagna recipe
Every now and then a recipe comes along that you just have to print and keep, bookmark or do whatever you need to so that you do not lose it and this old fashioned Lasagna recipe is one of those easy recipes. Don’t be put off by the number of ingredients, you will have most of them in your cupboard.
There is no low fat low salt this or that, it’s from a great friend of mine whose grandmother passed on the recipe and has been a favourite in their household for as long as anyone can remember. This is not to say that it is difficult or complicated, it is a lasagna recipe that is unpretentious, great tasting and home style food at it’s best so do what you need to and cook this one, you will be so glad you did. (serves 6) Dish size is 30cm x 20cm x about 8cm deep.
What you need
1 large onion finely chopped/grated
2 teaspoons crushed garlic
150g pork sausage meat
1 kg beef mince
2 tbsp tomato purée
3 tsp dried oregano
2 x 420g tins chopped peeled tomatoes
150ml beef stock
2 heaped tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
600ml full-fat milk
pinch of nutmeg
250g lasagne sheets
Grated Parmesan cheese
Grated mozzarella cheese
Salt and pepper
Vegetable oil
The process
If you are using boxed lasagna, boil the kettle and fill a dish with boiling water, place your lasagna sheets into the water one at a time and allow to stand for about 10 minutes or so so that they par cook. It is important to add them one at a time or they will stick together.
In a pan on a medium heat with a little oil add the onions and cook until they begin to sften, about 3 or 4 minutes. Add the pork sausage meat and fry for about another 3 minutes. You want to make sure that the meat is separated into a mince consistency. Add the beef mince and cook for about 10 minutes, moving it around so that it is all cokked. It may look a bit grey at this stage but have no fear that is how it is meant to look.
Now add the tomato puree, tomatoes, beef stock and oregano, mix it all up and allow to heat through, taste and season with salt and pepper and then leave it to simmer for about 30 minutes or so to reduce the liquid and thicken up while you make the white sauce.
Take a small pot and place on a medium heat, melt the butter and then stir in the flour. You want the flour to cook but not brown so make sure you are tirring all the time and that your stove is not too hot. This should take about 3 minutes with the butter and flour mixture foaming. Now add the milk little by little and stir furiously to get a smooth consistency and you ahve used all of the milk. Now add the nutmeg, give it a good stir and turn off the heat.
By this time your meat sauce should be ready as well and you are ready to get going.
Take a 20x30cm oven proof dish that is at least 6-8cm high and give it a light rubbing with some butter all over the base and add a thin layer of the meat sauce, then a layer of lasagna sheets, a thin layer of white sauce, a sprinkle of parmesan, then another layer of lasagna sheets and repeat until it is all finished. Sprinkle a nice thick layer of Mozzarella over the top with another fine sprinkle of parmesan.
Into a 180 Celsius oven it goes for 40 to 45 minutes or until the top is beautifully brown and bubbling.
That is the very best lasagna you will ever taste! Check out some of the other easy pasta recipes.
Hi Graham, Is this the only lasagne recipe you have on your site? You know what confuses me ~ I never know how much white/cheese sauce to make for a lasagne recipe. I either land up with a pot full or not enough! Can you please advise on say a lasagne for x amount of people.(so many layers and dish size) to how much sauce is needed!
Hi Moira, This one makes a good helping for 6 people. I have added the approx size of the lasagna dish I use which use 3 layers of lasagna sheets. The white sauce makes about 2 1/2 cups which is perfect for 6 people. Happy days G
Thanks Graham!
Hi Graham,
I’d like to try this recipe but i am not a pork eater. Can i use more beef instead of pork? Thanks a lot!!!
Hi Keke, yes you can, I just like the prok that adds a bit of a sweeter flavour to the mix but by all means use only beef. Happy days G
Hi Graham, Made “MAMA’S LASAGNA” the other night and was liked by all especially my daughter, she is a pasta fan. Peter
Fantastic, goota love those real home style recipes, thanks for letting us know, have a great weekend. G
Hi Graham, this looks divine will try it out BUT i am hell-bent on making my own pasta, however i can’t get Tip00 flour in Durban,would you perhaps know where i can get it or what can be used as a substitute. I dont even know what this Tip00 flour even is lol
Thanks a mill 🙂
Hi Janet, 00 flour is very finely ground flour and can usually be found in good Italian deli’s. If you can get it, it’s worth it, usually says di grano tenero on the bag! otherwise regular all purpose flour is fine to make pasta just make sure your eggs are fresh and the yolks are nice and dark (organic eggs are best). Cheers for now G
Hi Graham,
Lovely recipe man, beautiful stuff. I’m not the greatest cook but this I got for sure because my family loved it. My 7 year old daughter just couldn’t get enough of it, had to spare some to take to school, oh boy. “I think Garfield cartoon has something to do with though”.
Thank you
Thats great to hear Veronica, If Garfields Lasagna gets her eating well, give her Garfield 🙂 Have a lekker day G
Hi Graham, hierdie is n baie lekker lasagna resep. My seun is glad nie lief vir pasta nie en het homself oor eet.
Lekker dag!
Thats great to hear Andrieshia, lekker dag G
After many searches for the perfect lasagne yesterday, I found this one. I made a few personal preference alterations, but all-in-all followed the rest of the recipe to a T.
My family absolutely loved it! To such an extent that my fiancé and his mom were fighting over (literally) who gets to scrape the dish clean of the last bits remaining!
I myself couldn’t enjoy it and had to make a very bland version for myself – I’m highly allergic to tomatoes! But seeing their enjoyment and being threatened with my life if I EVER loose this recipe was a taste of sweet success and enough enjoyment for me 🙂
🙂 🙂 I just love hearing that and so glad you found it… can’t imagine being allergic to tomatoes, you poor thing but a lucky family you have. Happy days G
I tried this recipe last night. Very successful..- no more woolworths lasagne.
Fantastic Claire, weening oneself from Woolies can be traumatic.. Happy days G
Great recipe thanks
Thanks for letting us know eve, have a lekker week. G
Hi Graham,
My question has nothing to do with this recipe…couldn’t figure out where i could ask though.
I am hell bent on trying to make my own taco shells from scratch, any suggestions?
Thanks a mill 🙂
Hi Janet, crisp tacos are deep fried flour tortillas. Here is what you need
http://americanfood.about.com/od/pizzaandbreads/r/Flour_Tortillas.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEz0puaKNTk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm8gVWeIXG0
Happy days G