Lasagne Verdi alla Bolognese

Lasagne Verdi alla Bolognese is a classic dish from Emilia’s cuisine, much loved and appreciated. Here’s a classic recipe to make this delicious dish.

Ingredients

• For the green egg pasta:
  • 200 g of soft wheat flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon of cooked and squeezed spinach or 1 teaspoon of spinach concentrate
• For the Bolognese ragù:
  • 300 g of minced beef
  • 150 g of minced pork
  • 50 g of finely chopped pancetta
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 onion
  • 1 stalk of celery
  • 500 ml of tomato passata
  • 200 ml of meat broth or water
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 glass of red wine
• For the béchamel:
  • 500 ml of milk
  • 40 g of butter
  • 40 g of flour
  • Nutmeg
  • Salt
• Grated Parmesan cheese, as needed

Preparation

1. Start by preparing the green pasta. Mix the flour with the eggs and spinach or concentrate until you get a smooth dough. Let the dough rest, then roll it out and cut it into rectangular sheets that you’ll boil in salted boiling water for a couple of minutes.
2. Prepare the ragù. Sauté the chopped onion, carrot, and celery in olive oil, then add the pancetta. Incorporate the minced meats and cook until golden brown. Deglaze with the red wine. Add the tomato passata and broth, adjust the salt and pepper, and let it simmer for about 2 hours.
3. For the béchamel, melt the butter in a saucepan, add the flour and stir until smooth. Gradually add the hot milk, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Season with nutmeg and salt, and cook until it thickens.
4. Assemble the lasagna in a baking dish, alternating layers of green pasta sheets, Bolognese ragù, béchamel, and grated Parmesan. Finish with the béchamel and plenty of Parmesan.
5. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 30-40 minutes, until golden brown on the surface.

Did you know?

Lasagne alla Bolognese has ancient origins and has undergone various variations over time. The particularity of the green pasta version comes from adding spinach to the dough, which gives not only the characteristic color but also a slightly different taste from classic lasagna. It is a dish that symbolizes home and traditional Italian cooking, and it often takes center stage during Sunday lunches or holidays.