Description
This healthy lasagne recipe combines lean beef mince with a hearty vegetable base and wholemeal lasagne sheets for a nutritious twist on a classic comfort dish. The rich tomato and white sauces are prepared from scratch using wholesome ingredients, offering a balanced meal that’s perfect for the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetable and Meat Sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion (250g), finely chopped
- 320g carrots, finely chopped
- 2 celery sticks (140g), finely chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 500g 5% fat beef mince
- 3 large garlic cloves, finely grated
- 400g can chopped tomatoes
- 1 can water (approx. 400ml)
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 1½ tsp vegetable bouillon powder
White Sauce
- 400ml semi-skimmed milk
- 30g wholemeal flour
- 1 bay leaf
- Generous pinch of nutmeg
Assembly
- 6 sheets wholemeal lasagne (125g)
- 25g finely grated parmesan
Instructions
- Prepare Vegetable and Meat Sauce: Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Warm the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Fry the chopped onion, carrots, celery, and one bay leaf for 8-10 minutes until the vegetables have softened and start to turn golden.
- Brown the Beef: Add the beef mince and grated garlic to the pan. Stir-fry for about 5 minutes until the beef is browned evenly.
- Simmer the Sauce: Pour in the chopped tomatoes, a can of water (approx. 400ml), tomato purée, and vegetable bouillon powder. Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes, removing the lid halfway through (after 10 minutes) to reduce the liquid slightly. Remove and discard the bay leaf before assembling.
- Make the White Sauce: While the meat sauce simmers, pour the semi-skimmed milk into a medium pan and whisk in the wholemeal flour over low heat until smooth and lump-free. Add the second bay leaf and a generous pinch of nutmeg. Continue cooking and whisking for 8-10 minutes until the sauce thickens. Remove and discard the bay leaf.
- Assemble the Lasagne: Spoon one-third of the meat sauce into the base of a 19 x 24 cm baking dish. Layer two lasagne sheets on top. Add half of the remaining meat sauce, then two more sheets of lasagne. Spread the rest of the meat sauce, top with the remaining lasagne sheets.
- Add White Sauce and Cheese: Spoon the thickened white sauce evenly over the assembled layers. Sprinkle the finely grated parmesan cheese on top to finish.
- Bake: Place the assembled lasagne in the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes, until the dish is bubbling and the top is golden and slightly crisp.
Notes
- Using lean beef mince and wholemeal flour keeps this lasagne healthier without sacrificing flavor.
- Simmer the meat sauce uncovered for the last 10 minutes to concentrate the flavors and avoid watery sauce.
- Ensure the white sauce is thick enough before assembling to prevent sogginess in the lasagne.
- Allow the lasagne to rest for 10 minutes after baking to make serving easier.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute beef mince with lentils or a mix of mushrooms and walnuts.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: healthy lasagne, wholemeal lasagne, low fat beef lasagne, homemade lasagne, Italian comfort food, nutritious lasagne
