Why lasagnette is a good choice
This Lasagnette recipe uses simple ingredients that most people already have in their kitchen cupboards. The small pasta shapes absorb the sauce perfectly, which makes every bite full of flavour. It is a very family friendly meal that works well for both lunch and dinner. You can easily adapt the recipe by adding different vegetables or changing the type of cheese on top.
How to cook lasagnette
Brown the meat: Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and garlic then cook until they are soft. Add the minced beef and fry it until the meat is fully browned. Drain any excess fat from the pan before moving to the next step.
Make the sauce: Stir in the tomato puree and dried oregano to the beef mixture. Pour in the chopped tomatoes and let the sauce simmer for five minutes. This helps the flavours develop and makes the base of the Lasagnette rich and tasty. Season with a little salt and pepper if needed.
Add pasta and cream: Stir the dried pasta shapes and double cream into the pan with the meat and sauce. Ensure the pasta is well covered by the liquid so it cooks evenly. If the mixture looks too thick, you can add a small splash of water. Transfer everything into an ovenproof dish.
Bake and serve: Sprinkle the grated cheddar cheese over the top of the mixture. Place the dish in a preheated oven at 200C for about fifteen minutes. The Lasagnette is ready when the pasta is tender and the cheese is golden and bubbling. Let it stand for a few minutes before serving.
Good advice for lasagnette
To make your Lasagnette even better, try using a mix of different cheeses like mozzarella and cheddar for a stretchier topping. If you want to add more vegetables, finely chopped carrots or peppers work very well in the meat sauce. Always check the pasta towards the end of the cooking time to ensure it is soft but still has a bit of bite.
Letting the dish rest for five minutes after taking it out of the oven allows the sauce to thicken slightly. This makes it much easier to serve neat portions to your family. You can also make a larger batch of the meat sauce and freeze it for another day. Using high quality tinned tomatoes will give the sauce a better depth of colour and sweetness.
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