Prepare the meat sauce: In a large pot, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Drain off any excess fat. Add the chopped onion, garlic, carrots, and celery and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Make the béchamel sauce: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, until a smooth paste forms (a roux). Gradually whisk in the milk, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce has thickened, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat and set aside.
Cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Assemble the lasagna: Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Top with a layer of lasagna noodles, overlapping as needed. Spread half of the ricotta cheese over the noodles, followed by a layer of meat sauce, a drizzle of béchamel sauce, and a sprinkle of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, ending with a final layer of noodles, meat sauce, béchamel sauce, and a generous amount of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the lasagna is bubbly and the cheese is golden brown. Let stand for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
This recipe is a winner! The flavors are well-balanced, and the lasagna is not too dry. I followed it as directed, and it was perfect.
This lasagna was delicious, although I found I had too much béchamel sauce left over. I will reduce the quantity next time. Otherwise, a great recipe.
It was good, but a bit too much cheese for my liking. Next time, I'll probably reduce the amount of mozzarella. Otherwise, the meat sauce was really tasty.
Very good recipe. I made it for a potluck and everyone loved it. It's a bit time consuming, but worth the effort. The taste was great.
Great recipe, easy to follow. My only suggestion would be to include the oven temperature. Otherwise, a very good recipe.
