Lasagna Roses Food

BAKED PASTA ROSES

Steps:

• First make the bechamel.
• Melt the butter in a non-stick saucepan over a low heat
• add the flour and stir until you have a smooth paste
• Add the milk a little at a time and continue to stir until the sauce starts to thicken
• Add salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste
• When the bechamel has reached a good thickness add 50g of parmesan and continue to stir until the cheese has melted into the bechamel.
• Remove from the heat and allow to cool covered with cling film. If your bechamel seems lumpy whisk with a hand held food blender!
• Put a pasta sheet onto a floured board.
• Cover with slices of ham.
• Cover the ham with stracchino cheese
• Check the bechamel has cooled and cover one end of the pasta sheet with a spoonful of bechamel.
• Roll the sheet into a swiss roll shape.
• Repeat this process with all the pasta sheets and the rest of the ham and cheese.
• Coat the bottom of an oven dish with bechamel.
• Cut the pasta rolls into 3 pieces ( each about 4-5 cm wide) and place side by side in the oven dish.
• Pour the remaining bechamel over the pasta roses and sprinkle with the remaining parmesan.
• Cover with aluminium foil and cook at 180° in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes.
• Remove the aluminium foil and cook for another 10 minutes until the top becomes golden and crispy.
• Serve with extra grated parmesan if desired
• Buon Appetito!

THE BEST LASAGNA

Steps:

• Place the beef in a large bowl and "pull" it apart with two forks as if you were shredding pulled pork, breaking up the clumps and loosening the meat without compacting it.
• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the meat is golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the pancetta to a large bowl with a slotted spoon, leaving the fat in the pot.
• Spread the beef in an even layer in the same pot and cook undisturbed until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Toss and continue to cook, breaking up any clumps and scraping up any browned bits from the pot, until the meat is browned and completely cooked, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer the browned meat with a slotted spoon to the bowl with the pancetta, leaving the fat in the pot.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Add the carrots, celery, onions, half the garlic, the bay leaf, oregano, red pepper flakes, nutmeg, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender but not browned, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until it's very fragrant and brick red colored, about 2 minutes. Stir in the wine, bring to a boil and reduce until the liquid is very thick and no smell of alcohol remains, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes and the reserved pancetta and beef, bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Add the basil and Parmesan rind and simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the sauce resembles sloppy joes, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. There shouldn't be any rapid bubbles while cooking. Instead, the ragu should release occasional small bubbles. If the ragu reduces too quickly, add 1/2 cup of water and continue cooking. Repeat if necessary. The ragu needs the full 2 to 2 1/2 hour cook time to develop the flavors.
• Discard the bay leaf, basil and Parmesan rind. Break up any remaining clumps of meat with the back of a spoon, making an even textured sauce. Season with salt and set aside until ready to assemble.
• Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the noodles, stirring occasionally and separating them to prevent sticking, until softened and bendable but are still hard and chalky in the center, about 5 minutes. Transfer the noodles to a large bowl of cold water and set aside until ready to assemble.
• Stir together the ricotta, 1 cup of the Parmesan, the remaining grated garlic and 2 teaspoons salt in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined. Set aside until ready to assemble.
• Lightly oil a 13-by-9-inch glass or ceramic baking pan. Spread 1 cup of the ragu evenly in the bottom of the pan. Lay a single layer of noodles over the ragu (if you're using long noodles, you will need to cut some noodles to fill the gaps). Spread 1 1/2 cups of the ragu over the noodles. Dollop 3/4 cup of the ricotta mixture over the ragu and spread lightly with a small offset spatula. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella, followed by another layer of noodles. Repeat with the remaining pasta, ragu, ricotta mixture and mozzarella, creating 4 layers of pasta and ending with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella. (The lasagna should come just above the top of the pan but it will sink down slightly as it cooks.) Top with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.
• Lightly oil a piece of foil and cover the pan. Put the pan on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips. Bake the lasagna until bubbling gently around the edges, about 1 hour.
• Remove the lasagna from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees F. Remove the foil and then continue to bake the lasagna until the top is browned and crisp around the edges, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

LASAGNA ROSES

Steps:

• 1. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, spinach, salt, pepper, pepper flakes, romano & Parmesan cheese. Combine well, but do not over-mix.
• 2. Lay out al dente noodles [you'll need one and half noodles per ramekin], and evenly distribute 1/8 the filling. When complete, "roll up" noodles.
• 3. Place about 1/4 cup marinara sauce in the bottom of each ramekin. Place one lasagna roll, "ruffle" side up. Drizzle olive oil over each "ruffle".
• 4. Dollop a tablespoon or two of marinara over each "rose", followed by the grated mozzarella.
• 5. Place under broiler, on the lowest rack, until cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve hot with some Italian wine. Enjoy!

PASTA ROSETTES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cook the lasagna sheets until al dente, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove and lay on a lightly oiled surface.
• Divide the ricotta among the pasta sheets. Sprinkle each with a touch of salt and pepper. Layer the preserves, prosciutto and basil over the ricotta. Sprinkle a tablespoon of mozzarella over each. Roll the pasta, starting with the shorter end. Slice each roll into thirds and place in a shallow baking dish, low-sided oval casserole or small skillet.
• Whisk together the cream, pecorino and garlic. Drizzle the mixture over the pasta and top with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella. Bake until bubbling and golden, 14 to 16 minutes.
• Drizzle over the balsamic glaze and serve.