LASAGNA FILIPINO STYLE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups grated Processed cheese (Eden)
• 1 1/2 kilo Lasagna
• For the Red Sauce:
• 1/2 kilo Lean Ground Beef
• 1 can crushed tomatoes (28 oz)
• 1 can tomato sauce (16 oz)
• 1 can tomato paste (6 oz)
• 1/2 cup chopped onions
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 cup Water
• 2 tablespoon Canola cooking oil
• 2 tablespoon white sugar
• 3 tablespoon dried parsley*
• 3 tablespoon dried Basil leaves*
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
• spiced ham, sliced into small cubes
• For the White Sauce: (Bechamel)
• 1/2 stick chopped Butter,
• 1/3 cup All purpose Flour
• 4 1/2 cups fresh milk (hot)
• 75g finely grated Parmesan cheese,
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• a pinch of ground nutmeg (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Soak the Lasagna in water for 18 minutes.
2. To Make Red Sauce: In a large pan over medium heat, pour  little cooking oil. Sauté the garlic and onions for 1 or 2 minutes. Add ground beef and cook until color turns brown for about 10 minutes.
3. Normally. Beef will produce its own oil when frying, it produces about 1 cup of extra oil. So to prevent your sauce from too much oil. Once the beef is cooked, drain oil first and transfer sauteed beef in a bowl. Discard oil from pan. And place back your drained sauteed beef.
4. Add your tomato sauce, crushed tomato and tomato paste. Stir and mix well with the meat. Season with mince parsley, basil leaves, sugar, and salt to taste. Adjust to your taste preference.
5. Stir and simmer for 60 minutes.
6. Add the ground black pepper and then set aside.
7. To Make White Sauce:
8. Melt the butter using a saucepan in a medium heat until it foams.
9. Add the flour, constantly stirring until bubbling for about 2 minutes then turn off the heat.
10. Slowly pour the milk while constantly whisking until the mixture is smooth.
11. Turn on the heat again then cook the mixture, using a wooden spoon keep on stirring for about 10 minutes or until the white sauce is thick and lightly coats the back side of your wooden spoon.
12. NOTE: It gets thicker as it cools down, so leave an allowance. Remove from heat. Sprinkle water on it if it gets dry or top becomes filmy dry. Press it down on a strainer, to remove lumps and make it smoother.
13. Sprinkle the sauce with parmesan cheese, nutmeg and salt then set aside.
14. To Assemble: Spread the White sauce into the bottom of a 13 by 9-inch baking tray.
    Arrange the pasta sheets side by side, covering the bottom of the baking dish.
    Add in a layer of meat sauce over the pasta sheets, sprinkle spiced ham.
15. Then pour in a layer of the white sauce and grated cheese. Arrange the second layer of pasta, meat sauce, cheese and white sauce until a total of 4 layers is formed.
16. Top with remaining White sauce and Parmesan Cheese.
17. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place lasagna dish on top, cover and put on the middle rack of the oven and Bake at 350°F to 375°F until top is bubbling, about 30 minutes.
18. Remove cover and continue to bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.
19. Let it cool for 5 minutes before serving. Serve and enjoy your Lasagna Filipino Style!

Slowly pour the milk while constantly whisking until the mixture is smooth.

Turn on the heat again then cook the mixture, using a wooden spoon keep on stirring for about 10 minutes or until the white sauce is thick and lightly coats the back side of your wooden spoon.

NOTE: It gets thicker as it cools down, so leave an allowance. Remove from heat. Sprinkle water on it if it gets dry or top becomes filmy dry. Press it down on a strainer, to remove lumps and make it smoother.

To Assemble and Cook Lasagna:

Spread the White sauce into the bottom of a 13 by 9-inch baking tray.
Arrange the pasta sheets side by side, covering the bottom of the baking dish.
Add in a layer of meat sauce over the pasta sheets, sprinkle spiced ham.

Then pour in a layer of the white sauce and grated cheese. Arrange the second layer of pasta, meat sauce, cheese and white sauce until a total of 4 layers is formed.

Top with remaining White sauce and Parmesan Cheese.

Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place lasagna dish on top, cover and put on the middle rack of the oven and Bake at 350°F to 375°F until top is bubbling, about 30 minutes.

Remove cover and continue to bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Let it cool for 5 minutes before serving. Serve and enjoy your Lasagna Filipino Style!

This Lasagna Recipe goes well with Roast Buttered Chicken:

GARLIC BUTTER ROAST CHICKEN