Lasagne al Pesto - Pesto Lasagne

 If you think lasagne is a meat-and-tomato-sauce-only dish, think again. This staple of my youth is elegant, mouthwatering, and can easily be part of a multi-course meal without filling you up. Just remember that with no-boil lasagne noodles, they won’t cook properly unless each ‘sheet” is completely covered in sauce.

Ingredients:

BESCIAMELLA

Yields: 3 cups  / Prep time: 5 minutes  / Cook time: 20 minutes

• 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter (1/2 stick)
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 cups whole milk
• Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

PESTO

Serves: 6  / Prep time: 10-15 minutes

• 4 cups of fresh basil leaves (about 4 oz)
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup of pinoli (pine nuts), toasted
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Pecorino Sardo or Romano
• Kosher Salt and freshly ground black pepper

 PESTO LASAGNE

Serves: 8 / Prep time: 15 minutes / Cook time: 35 minutes

• Butter for greasing the pan
• 3 cups Besciamella (recipe above)
• 1 1/2 (9-ounce) boxes of no-boil lasagna noodles
• Pesto (recipe above)
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more for serving
• Extra virgin olive oil, for serving

Preparation:

BESCIAMELLA SAUCE

1. In a small saucepan, warm up the milk over medium heat.
2. In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour with a wooden spoon, about 5 minutes. Be careful not to burn the flour.
3. Add the warm milk to the butter-flour mixture and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for about 15 minutes until thickened.
4. Season the sauce with freshly grated nutmeg, salt, and pepper to taste. Taste to ensure the flour flavor has dissipated. If you still taste the flour, cook a few minutes longer.

Importante!:

For a thicker besciamella, add 1/2 tablespoon butter and 1/2 tablespoon of flour and cook for a few minutes over medium-low heat, stirring constantly.

To thin a sauce, add 1 tablespoon milk (or 2 if needed).

PESTO SAUCE

1. Using a mortar and pestle or in a food processor, combine the olive oil, basil, pine nuts, and garlic and blend until a paste forms.
2. Add the Parmigiano-Reggiano and Pecorino cheeses, and pulse until smooth.
3. Season with salt and pepper to taste(be mindful that that the cheeses are salty).
4. Keep covered, air-tight, in the fridge until you’re ready to use it; this will prevent it from oxidizing and turning dark.

ASSEMBLING THE LASAGNE

1. Preheat the oven to 375º F. Now that you have (or have made) the besciamella and the pesto, you only need a cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and 1 1/2 (9-ounce) boxes of no-boil lasagna noodles.
2. Butter a 9  x 13-inch baking dish or aluminum pan.
3. Spread a thin layer of besciamella (about 1/2 cup) over the bottom of the dish.
4. Cover with a layer of lasagne noodles, then another thin layer of besciamella. Gently spread 4 tablespoons of pesto across the surface, followed by about 2 tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan.
5. Repeat the process until you reach the top, which should be a final layer of noodles and an uppermost layer of besciamella, topped with pesto and Parmesan.
6. Bake for about 30 minutes until bubbly and golden brown on top. For a nice crisp coating, turn on the broiler and bake for another 5 minutes(keep a watchful eye on this step, so top does not burn).
7. Lest rest for 5 minutes before serving. Keep extra virgin olive oil and Parmesan handy for a final garnish before serving.