Death by cheese!!!

I have died and gone to cheese heaven! And I think I am going be very happy there :-)
Have done Italian pastas and risottos plenty of times but wanted to try lasagna. Yesterday was the first time. I felt like Scarpetta (for those familiar with Patricia Cornwell) or Barefoot Contessa (for those familiar with Food Network) or any of those Italian cooks references where in they say "the whole house was enveloped in a smell of fresh herbs and Italian cooking" :-)

 

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Spinach Lasagna

10 sheets of ready to cook lasagna sheets

2 cups chopped spinach leaves

4 tomatoes chopped

6-10 cloves of garlic roughly chopped

6 dry red chillies chopped finely

Oregano Seasoning

2 cups of grated parmesan + mozarella + cheddar cheese

Olive oil to cook

For the white sauce

White pepper

2 tbsp maida

1 tbsp butter

1 cup shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese

1 cup warm milk

In a pan warm the butter and after it has melted, add the maida and keep stirring till it is cooked. Then add the warm milk slowly and stir vigorously till the maida dissolves completely without any lumps. Let it simmer for a minute. Now add the cheese and salt and white pepper and stir till the cheese dissolves and forms a nice thick sauce. Reserve.

In a separate pan add enough water for the lasagna sheets to be covered in water and add salt and a tsp of oil. Cover and let it come to a boil. Add the sheets and cook them till they are done but are still firm and retain their shape. Drain and reserve.

In a separate pan add oil and saute the garlic and red chillies till they release their aromas. Now add the tomatoes and cook till soft. Add the spinach and cover and cook till done. Add the oregano seasoning and salt and saute for a minute. Reserve.

In a oven proof casserole layer the lasagna in the following order - Spinach mixture, lasagna sheets, white sauce and then the cheese mixture (reserve a little white sauce and cheese for the top of the dish). Keep going till you have exhausted all of the sheets. On top spread the last of the white sauce and sprinkle all of the remaining cheese. Bake in a preheated oven for about 30 mins till the top layer turns brown.

Buona appetito :)

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Ciao!