This easy homemade meat lasagna is made with layers of pasta and ground meat, with a delicious creamy sauce and parmesan cheese topping!
We all know that this delicious and creamy lasagna is a traditional Italian recipe, and we all love Italian recipes! For this type of recipe we always try to give a Portuguese touch, in this case, we make a simple sauté of olive oil, onion and garlic to cook the meat.
For the meat sauce we use tomato pulp, it makes the recipe easier and adds a little more color and creaminess. You can also use fresh tomatoes, the recipe will be healthier, but less colorful and creamy. We here at home like to do it both ways.
It's a recipe that you can serve on any occasion, whether for a simple family lunch or for dinner on those busier days of the week. If you have leftovers, you can always store them in the fridge for another day.
Here you'll find all the ingredients needed to make this recipe:
Ground beef and ground pork - Lasagna filling.
Lasagna sheets - Lasagna structure.
Olive oil, chopped onion and chopped garlic - Essential ingredients for sautéing and flavoring.
Pepper, nutmeg and salt - To season the meat.
Tomato pulp - Gives color and flavor to the food and makes the meat creamier.
Grated parmesan cheese - To sprinkle before baking.
Whipping cream and béchamel sauce - Lasagna sauce.
A few drops of lemon juice and nutmeg - To flavor the cream and béchamel sauce.
Below you’ll find the correct measurement of all ingredients and the step-by-step guide for this recipe.
HOW TO MAKE EASY HOMEMADE MEAT LASAGNA
Step 1: In a large saucepan, add the chopped onion, chopped garlic and the olive oil. Sauté over low heat until the onion start to turn golden, stirring occasionally.
Step 2: Add the ground meat and season with salt, pepper, nutmeg and tomato pulp. Stir and cook over low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 3: Turn off the heat and drain the meat.
Step 4: Preheat the oven to 180ºC (350ºF).
Step 5: In a medium bowl, combine the cream, béchamel sauce, a pinch of nutmeg and a few drops of lemon juice; set aside.
Step 6: Place a lasagna sheet on the bottom of a baking dish. Pour a layer of the meat over the lasagna sheet and so on until finish with a lasagna sheet.
Step 7: Pour the béchamel mixture over the lasagna and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese.
Step 8: Bake for about 35 minutes or until golden brown.
Step 9: Turn off the oven and serve.
RECIPE TIPS
1. You can make the meat sauce with fresh tomatoes instead of tomato pulp. The meat will be a little healthier, but it will lose color and creaminess.
2. If you make the meat with fresh tomatoes, remove the skin from the tomatoes and cut into small chunks (cook the tomatoes with the olive oil, chopped onion and chopped garlic until they start to break down slightly).
3. We recommend making this recipe with parmesan or cheddar cheese but you can make it with another type of cheese (such as mozzarella cheese), it all depends on your personal taste.
4. If the lasagna starts to brown too much, reduce the oven temperature or cover with aluminum foil.
5. If you have leftovers, store the lasagna in the fridge in a properly airtight container (to prevent the growth of microorganisms).
In a large saucepan, add the chopped onion, chopped garlic and the olive oil. Sauté over low heat until the onion start to turn golden, stirring occasionally.
Add the ground meat and season with salt, pepper, nutmeg and tomato pulp. Stir and cook over low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Turn off the heat and drain the meat well.
Preheat the oven to 180ºC (350ºF).
In a medium bowl, combine the cream, béchamel sauce, a pinch of nutmeg and a few drops of lemon juice; set aside.
Place a lasagna sheet on the bottom of a baking dish. Pour a layer of the meat over the lasagna sheet and so on until finish with a lasagna sheet.
Pour the béchamel mixture over the lasagna and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese.
Food From Portugal was created with the aim of promoting Portuguese food to all corners of the world. Here you can find a little of everything, main dishes, side dishes, desserts, typical Portuguese food, quick and easy recipes and much more.
