The Heartfelt Lasagne of Love Recipe: Comfort on a Plate

Crafting a heartwarming lasagne of love demands more than just ingredients and technique.

Layers of passion blend seamlessly with each carefully assembled component.

Memories of grandmother’s kitchen whisper through rich, creamy textures and aromatic herbs.

Comfort becomes tangible when you carefully stack delicate pasta sheets with savory fillings.

Warm cheese bubbles promise pure culinary affection in every bite.

Sharing this recipe means connecting souls through a timeless Italian classic.

Let’s transform an ordinary meal into an extraordinary expression of tenderness.

Why Nigella Lasagne Of Love Is So Special

• Craft Comforting Layers: This lasagne creates rich, hearty layers that blend perfectly with each bite, delivering a warm embrace of classic Italian flavors.
• Master Complex Techniques: The recipe introduces home cooks to sophisticated cooking methods like making bechamel sauce, blitzing vegetable bases, and creating deep, slow-simmered meat ragù.
• Crowd-Pleasing Dinner Champion: Perfect for family gatherings, weekend meals, and potluck events where everyone craves a satisfying, delicious main course that impresses without complicated preparation.
• Nutritious Vegetable Boost: Packed with hidden vegetables like carrots, celery, and garlic, this lasagne provides a sneaky way to incorporate extra nutrients into a crowd-pleasing dish.

What Goes Into Nigella Lasagne Of Love

• Lasagne Sheets: Traditional pasta layers that form the structure of the classic Italian dish.
• Ground Beef, Ground Pork: Rich meats that provide deep flavor and hearty texture to the sauce.

• Onions, Carrots, Celery, Garlic: Classic aromatic vegetables that build a robust flavor base for the meat sauce.
• Pancetta: Italian cured pork that adds a salty and rich depth to the sauce.

• Bay Leaves, Mixed Herbs: Aromatic seasonings that enhance the overall complexity of the sauce.
• Salt: Essential seasoning that balances and intensifies the dish's flavors.

• Olive Oil: Cooking medium that helps sauté vegetables and meats.
• Red Wine: Adds depth and richness to the meat sauce.
• Stock: Provides additional liquid and flavor to the sauce.
• Tomato Puree, Chopped Tomatoes: Create the base of the rich meat sauce.
• Milk: Used in both the meat sauce and bechamel for creaminess.

• Butter, Flour: Create the roux for the creamy bechamel sauce.
• Parmesan Cheese, Mozzarella: Provide creamy, melty texture and rich flavor to the lasagne.

How to Prepare Nigella Lasagne Of Love

Step 1: Sauté Aromatic Base

Heat olive oil in a large skillet and gently cook chopped onions until they become translucent and soft, releasing their sweet fragrance.

Step 2: Blend Vegetable Medley

• Carrots
• Celery
• Garlic
• Pancetta
• Fresh herbs

Mix tomato puree with milk to create a smooth liquid base.

Step 3: Build Flavor Foundation

Add the blended vegetable mixture to the sautéed onions and cook briefly. Introduce ground meats and brown them thoroughly to develop deep, rich flavors.

Step 4: Create Luxurious Meat Sauce

• Red wine
• Beef stock
• Crushed tomatoes
• Prepared puree mixture

Sprinkle in salt and bay leaves. Allow the sauce to simmer gently for one hour, letting flavors meld and intensify.

Step 5: Craft Creamy Bechamel

Warm milk with subtle seasonings and bay leaves. Create a roux by melting butter and whisking in flour. Gradually incorporate the warm milk, stirring until the sauce thickens. Fold in freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Step 6: Layer with Love

• Rich meat sauce
• Lasagne sheets
• Creamy bechamel

Repeat the layering process to build depth of flavor.

Step 7: Final Cheese Topping

• Mozzarella
• Parmesan cheese

Cover the dish with aluminum foil.

Step 8: Bake to Golden Perfection

• 45 minutes covered
• 15 minutes uncovered

The top should turn golden and slightly crispy.

Step 9: Rest and Serve

Allow the lasagne to rest for 10 minutes before slicing. This helps the layers set and makes serving easier.

Top Tips for Nigella Lasagne Of Love

• Blitz Vegetables Smoothly: Use a food processor to create a fine, uniform vegetable mix for deeper flavor integration and smoother sauce texture.
• Control Meat Browning: Brown meats carefully to develop rich, caramelized flavors without burning, which enhances the overall depth of the lasagne.
• Balance Sauce Consistency: Simmer ragù slowly to reduce liquid and concentrate taste, ensuring a thick sauce that won't make lasagne sheets soggy.
• Cheese Layer Strategy: Distribute mozzarella and Parmesan evenly across layers for consistent cheesy goodness in every bite.
• Rest Before Serving: Allow lasagne to sit for 10 minutes after baking to help layers set and make cutting cleaner and more precise.

Tasty Twists on Nigella Lasagne Of Love

• Vegetarian Veggie Lasagne: Replace meat with lentils, mushrooms, and spinach for a protein-packed plant-based version.
• Gluten-Free Comfort Lasagne: Swap traditional lasagne sheets with gluten-free rice or zucchini noodles for celiac-friendly option.
• Low-Carb Cauliflower Lasagne: Use thinly sliced cauliflower instead of pasta sheets, reducing carbohydrate content while maintaining rich flavor.
• Mediterranean Herb Lasagne: Incorporate feta cheese, olives, and swap pancetta with sun-dried tomatoes for a Greek-inspired variation.

What to Serve with Nigella Lasagne Of Love

• Elevate Wine Pairing: Choose a robust Italian red like Chianti Classico or Sangiovese to complement the rich meat sauce and harmonize with the lasagne's deep, complex flavors.
• Refreshing Salad Companion: Prepare a crisp arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to cut through the lasagne's heaviness, adding bright, zesty notes that refresh the palate between bites.
• Bread Sidekick: Serve warm, crusty focaccia or garlic bread to soak up extra sauce, providing a delightful textural contrast and enhancing the overall dining experience.
• Dessert Finale: End with a light tiramisu or panna cotta to balance the meal's richness, offering a classic Italian sweet conclusion that doesn't overwhelm after the hearty lasagne.

Best Storage Tips for Nigella Lasagne Of Love

• Store leftover lasagne in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Consume within 3-4 days for best quality and safety.
• Wrap individual portions or entire lasagne tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze up to 3 months. Label with date for easy tracking.
• Place single serving on microwave-safe plate. Cover with damp paper towel. Heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway to ensure even warming.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Remove lasagne from refrigerator 30 minutes before reheating. Cover with foil to prevent drying. Warm for 20-25 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Your FAQs Answered for Nigella Lasagne Of Love

• Why do I need to blitz the vegetables before cooking?

Blitzing breaks down vegetables into a fine mixture, helping them cook faster and distribute more evenly throughout the sauce, creating a smoother, more integrated flavor profile.

• Can I substitute pancetta with another meat?

Yes, bacon or guanciale work well as alternatives. They provide similar fatty, savory notes that enhance the overall depth of the lasagne’s meat sauce.

• What's the purpose of simmering the sauce for an hour?

Long simmering allows flavors to develop and meld together, tenderizes the meat, and reduces the sauce to a rich, concentrated consistency that makes the lasagne more flavorful.

Lasagne Of Love Recipe

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4.8 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 40 mins
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Culinary passion meets comfort in this lasagne of love, layering rich flavors and heartwarming memories. Delicate pasta sheets embrace creamy ricotta, savory meats, and robust marinara, promising a soulful dining experience you’ll savor with every delectable bite.

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Ingredients

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Meat:

• 350 grams (12.35 ounces) minced beef
• 350 grams (12.35 ounces) minced pork
• 150 grams (5.3 ounces) pancetta

Vegetables and Herbs:

• 2 onions, chopped
• 2 carrots
• 1 stick celery
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried)
• Small bunch parsley
• 3 bay leaves

Liquids and Additional Ingredients:

• 250 milliliters (8.45 fluid ounces) red wine or vermouth
• 500 milliliters (16.9 fluid ounces) beef stock
• 2 × 400 grams (14.11 ounces) tins chopped tomatoes
• 125 milliliters (4.23 fluid ounces) full-fat milk
• 1 liter (33.81 fluid ounces) full-fat milk
• 34 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 tablespoons tomato puree
• 2 teaspoons sea salt
• 18 teaspoons chilli flakes
• White pepper
• 100 grams (3.53 ounces) unsalted butter
• 100 grams (3.53 ounces) plain flour
• 3 tablespoons (about 40 grams) freshly grated Parmesan
• 18–20 dried lasagne sheets
• 1 ball mozzarella
• 5 tablespoons Parmesan

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Instructions

1. Sauté onions in oil until translucent and softened.
2. Create a vibrant vegetable base by blending carrots, celery, garlic, pancetta, and herbs into a fine mixture.
3. Incorporate the vegetable blend into the sautéed onions, cooking until fragrant and well combined.
4. Add ground meats to the vegetable mixture, browning thoroughly to develop deep flavors.
5. Pour in wine, stock, tomatoes, and tomato puree mixture. Season with salt and bay leaves. Simmer the sauce gently for approximately 1 hour, allowing flavors to meld.
6. Prepare bechamel sauce by warming milk with seasonings and bay leaves. Create a smooth roux using butter and flour, then gradually whisk in the infused milk until thickened. Fold in Parmesan cheese.
7. Assemble the lasagne in a baking dish, alternating layers of rich meat sauce, lasagne sheets, and creamy bechamel sauce.
8. Generously top the final layer with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover the dish completely with foil.
9. Bake at 180°C for 45 minutes while covered, then remove foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes to achieve a golden, crispy top.
10. Allow the lasagne to rest for 10 minutes after removing from the oven, enabling the layers to set and making slicing easier.

Notes

• Enhance flavor by caramelizing onions slowly over medium-low heat, releasing natural sweetness and developing deeper taste profiles.
• Blitz vegetables finely to create smooth, integrated sauce that distributes ingredients evenly throughout the lasagne.
• Replace pancetta with vegetarian bacon or smoked tofu for plant-based diets, maintaining rich umami undertones.
• Allow meat sauce to simmer longer than recommended for more intense, concentrated flavors that penetrate every layer of the dish.

• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 2 hours
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 746
• Sugar: 7 g
• Sodium: 570 mg
• Fat: 43 g
• Saturated Fat: 18 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 35 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 46 g
• Cholesterol: 130 mg