Ingredients
• 500g spinach leaves, washed, drained
• 300g firm ricotta
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 egg
• 100g parmesan, finely grated
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to season
• Freshly grated nutmeg, to season
• 375g instant dried lasagne sheets
• Basil leaves, to serve
Bechamel sauce
• 50g butter
• 2 Tbsp plain flour
• 400ml milk
Tomato sauce
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 eschalot, finely chopped
• 400g can diced tomatoes
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
Method
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Put spinach in a medium saucepan of salted boiling water. Drain and refresh in iced water, then squeeze out as much water as possible. Finely chop and combine in a large bowl with ricotta, garlic, egg and 1/2 of the parmesan to form a smooth, spreadable paste. Season with salt, if necessary, pepper and nutmeg.
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To make bechamel sauce, melt butter in a small saucepan over a medium-high heat. Stir in flour and cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and slowly add milk, whisking until combined. Return to heat and cook, stirring, for 4 minutes or until mixture thickens. Season with salt and pepper.
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To make tomato sauce, heat oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add eschalot and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add tomato and dried herbs, then reduce heat and simmer for 4-5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
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Preheat oven to 200C. To assemble dish, spread a little of the tomato sauce over base of a 30 x 25cm baking dish. Lay 1/3 of the lasagne sheets over sauce, top with . of the spinach mixture and drizzle with 1/3 of the bechamel sauce. Repeat with 1/3 of the lasagne sheets, remaining spinach mixture and 1/3 of the bechamel. Top with remaining lasagne sheets, remaining tomato sauce and remaining bechamel. Sprinkle over remaining parmesan and bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle over basil leaves and serve.
