Lasagne Al Pesto
Category: Main Dishes | Blog URL: http://agliooliopeperoncino.blogspot.com/2009/04/lasagne-al-pesto.html
This recipe was entered in The Foodista Best of Food Blogs Cookbook contest, a compilation of the world’s best food blogs which was published in Fall 2010.
Ingredients
For the béchamel:
1/2 cup flour, sifted
1/2 cup butter
2 pounds uncooked lasagne (store-bought or fresh)
1 cup pesto sauce
Parmigiano, grated
Preparation
1
Let's begin by whisking up the béchamel, which is the "hardest" part of this otherwise very simple recipe. While you preheat your oven at 180°C (356°F), melt the butter over low heat in a stainless steel pan.
Gradually sprinkle in the flour, and stir well with a wooden spoon until smooth in consistency; cook gently until the mixture becomes a light golden color.
Gradually add the boiling hot milk, stirring to avoid forming lumps. Cook for at least 15 minutes, stirring constantly.
2
3
Very good, upon completing this step, you're done 3/4 of the way. Is your appetite awakening?
Now we blanch and build.
4
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil. Add a tablespoon of olive oil to it so the pasta won't stick during cooking.
Cook the lasagne sheets for 5 minutes, fish them out with a slotted spoon and lay them flat to dry on a clean kitchen towel.
Keep aside a glass of the pasta cooking water, and stir 2 tablespoons (or more) of it in the pesto sauce.
5
Butter a large, high rimmed 9" x 13" baker pan, and lay a single layer of parboiled lasagna sheets to cover the bottom, just barely overlapping them.
Smear evenly with 3-4 tablespoons of slightly diluted pesto sauce and a wee drizzle of olive oil. Next, slather on the béchamel and a few flakes of butter.
Dust with a light hand of grated Parmigiano, and repeat the layers until you reach the top of the baker pan, or you run out of lasagna sheets. Should find you are running low on béchamel, you can always make more. It's never too much. On the other hand, having too little could signify a dry, parched final outcome. We want scrumptious, succulent and creamy.
6
For best results, overdo the top layer with béchamel, butter flakes and grated Parmigiano.
7
8
The bitter sea tang of a good Vermentino white will offset the pesto's garlic perfectly, and have you smiling for days.
Tools
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About
This is a pleasant alternative to the meaty "red" lasagna. The delicate mixture of flavors, and the lightness of this particular baked dish make it an excellent starter. For those concerned with ethical eating, pesto lasagna is furthermore a vegetarian preparation.
Yield:
6
Added:
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 - 3:26pm
Comments
December 4, 2009
Yum yum! I love this!
December 4, 2009
Thank you, I'm happy you like it!
Ciao
February 9, 2010
Delicious!
February 16, 2010
Only a few days left to vote this authentic Italian recipe!! Go ahead and improve my chances of being published in The Foodista Best of Food Blogs Cookbook!