Italian Lasagna

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• olive oil
• salt
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 lb ricotta
• 5 tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup flour
• whole milk
• ground white pepper
• nutmeg
• 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
• frozen chopped spinach
• lasagna sheets
• grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
• butter

Method

1. Heat a saute pan and add a little olive oil. Break up 1 pound of ground beef and cook for 4-5 minutes, adding salt to taste.
2. Beat 3 eggs in a bowl. Mix in about 1 1/2 pounds of ricotta cheese.
3. Melt 5 tablespoons of butter in a pan, then add 1/2 cup flour and stir to make a roux. Gradually add whole milk at room temperature, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Add salt, ground white pepper, and grated nutmeg to taste.
4. In a bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce made from whole tomatoes, basil, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil.
5. Add frozen chopped spinach to the bechamel sauce.
6. Layer the lasagna in a baking dish: start with a third of the bechamel, then add lasagna sheets, ricotta mixture, tomato sauce, and repeat layers. Top with grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese and dollops of butter.
7. Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F for 45 minutes until golden and bubbly.