The Host

Homestyle Lasagna with Bechamel

Who doesn’t love Italian food? Lasagna is a household favorite and a guest-pleaser for dinner nights. Although, we’re not huge fans of the Ricotta Cheese texture. Which is why we are happy to have found the alternative, which is to use Bechamel. Bechamel is a white sauce that they seem to use in a lot of Italian Cooking. Very much a comfort food, and absolutely delicious.

The meat sauce is pretty much the same as we make for Spaghetti. We personally do not like the no-bake noodles, but for simplicity sake its not bad alternative. Not all Spaghetti or Marinara sauce is the same. Our choice is the Trader Joes Basil Marinara. Not only does it taste great, its priced very well. The ready made sauce speeds up the process, although you still need to season it.

For the health conscious, ground beef with low fat is the preferred method. However, when it comes lasagna, the 80/20 option is the way to go. The extra juices of the meat really adds to the meal.

Assembly is easy once the noodles, the meat sauce, the cheeses and the bechamel are ready.

Lasagna
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Lasagna

Recipe by The HostCourse: Recipes
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

40

minutes
Calories

300

kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 lb of Ground Beef (80%/20%)

  • 9 Sheets of Barilla Lasagna noodles

  • 1 cup of Chopped Onions

  • 2-3 Cloves of Garlic, minced

  • 4 Tbsp of Oregano

  • 2-3 Tbsp of Olive Oil

  • Trader Joes Basil Marinara Sauce

  • Basil

  • Salt

  • Black Pepper

  • Garlic Powder

  • 1 lb of Mozzarella Cheese

  • 8 oz of Parmesan Cheese

  • Bechamel

  • 1/4 Cup Butter

  • 1/4 Cup All Purpose Flour

  • 1/8 Tsp Salt

  • Pinch of Black Pepper

  • 3 cups of Milk

Directions

  • In a large pot, add water and bring to a boil. Cook Lasagna Noodles as directed unless you use a no bake variety. While you wait for the water to boil, start the meat sauce.
  • Heat Olive Oil in a Skillet, add onions and sauté until transparent. Add Minced Garlic until fragrant. About a minute.
  • Add 1lb of Ground Beef to the onions and garlic, season with salt, black pepper and garlic powder.
  • Add 1 bottle of Marinara Sauce. Season with salt, black pepper, oregano, basil leaves, cumin (optional). Continue to stir so that the sauce doesn’t burn. Simmer a bit to let the flavors really lock in.
  • Bechamel Sauce
  • In a small sauce pan, melt the butter over medium heat.
  • Add the flour and stir.
  • Assembly
  • Starting with the lasagna noodles, add one layer to a greased baking dish. Then add enough meat sauce to cover the noodles, pour some bechamel sauce then add mozzarella cheese. Repeat 2 more layers.
  • Add a final layer of cheese on top.