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Lasagna with broccoli and sausage

17/11/2023

Lasagna with broccoli and sausage is a delicious encounter between the rustic nature of the meat and the sweetness of the broccoli, all enclosed between layers of pasta and enriched with a creamy béchamel sauce. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

  • 250 g of lasagna (fresh or dry that require cooking)
  • 400 g of sausage (preferably fresh)
  • 400 g of broccoli
  • 400 ml of béchamel sauce
  • 150 g of grated cheese (Parmesan or Pecorino)
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • Nutmeg (optional)

Preparation

  1. Cook the broccoli: Clean the broccoli, divide it into florets and boil it in salted boiling water for about 5-7 minutes, until they are tender but still crisp. Drain them and set aside.

  2. Prepare the sausage: Remove the skin from the sausage and crumble it into a pan with a dash of oil and a clove of garlic. Sauté until the sausage is well cooked and slightly golden.

  3. Combine the broccoli and sausage: Remove the garlic and add the broccoli to the pan with the sausage. Gently mix to allow the broccoli to absorb the meat flavors released during cooking. Add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.

  4. Prepare the béchamel: You can use ready-made béchamel or make it at home by heating milk and adding flour and butter, cooking until it reaches a creamy consistency. Season with grated nutmeg, salt, and pepper.

  5. Assemble the lasagna: In a baking dish, start with a thin layer of béchamel sauce. Then arrange the first layer of lasagna sheets, topped with a portion of broccoli and sausage, a bit of béchamel, and a sprinkle of grated cheese. Repeat the layers until all the ingredients are used up, finishing with béchamel and a generous sprinkle of cheese.

  6. Cooking: Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 25-30 minutes, or until the surface is golden and crispy.

  7. Serving: Let the lasagna rest for a few minutes before serving. This will allow the layers to set, making it easier to cut and serve.

Trivia

Lasagna is a very versatile dish and represents Italian conviviality. With the broccoli and sausage variation, a touch of rusticity is added to the recipe, but with a strategy to keep a balance of flavors that reminds of the Italian hills where these ingredients are widely used.