Layered Bechamel Pasta Recipe

Instructions

Tomato Sauce:

1. Prepare your crushed tomatoes by blending 2 cans of tomatoes or 1kg of tomatoes in a blender
2. Melt your butter in a stainless steel pot over high heat, and add your large diced onions
3. Cook for a few minutes until the onions turn translucent
4. Add your crushed tomatoes to the pot and stir
5. Add in 1 1/2 tsp salt and 3/4 tsp pepper and mix
6. Bring to a boil and then cover with a lid, leaving it slightly ajar
7. Leave to simmer for 45 minutes on a medium to low heat
8. The sauce is ready when reduced to a third of the original amount

Mince Meat:

1. Add oil or butter to a pan on high heat and crush your garlic clove into it
2. After 30 seconds add your onions, salt, and pepper then stir
3. Cook your onions for around 5 minutes until cooked through and move to one side of the pan
4. Add your minced beef to the empty part of the pan, pushing it down so it has good contact with the pan
5. Cook your beef for around 3 minutes then flip
6. After 3 more minutes break up your beef into small chunks using a wooden spoon
7. Stir the onions into the beef and cook for a further 5 minutes until brown and cooked through

Bechamel:

1. In a large non-stick pot melt all of your butter on a high heat
2. When melted add all of your flour and mix until all the butter has been absorbed
3. You are looking to form a wet dough that clumps together, if your mixture is looking too dry add more butter, if too dry add more flour.
4. Cook your dough for around 5 minutes until it starts to resemble wet sand
5. Start adding your milk 150ml at a time, add the milk and mix it into the dough until fully combined
6. Keep adding your milk in batches of 150ml until you have mixed all the milk into the dough. You should be left with a thick bechamel. If your mixture is too doughy or dry, add more milk a little at a time.
7. Add your salt and pepper as well as a few small grates of nutmeg. Leave to cool before using.

To assemble:

1. Cook your penne pasta to the directions on your packet, drain then set aside.
2. In a small mixing bowl add your meat and half of your tomato sauce.
3. Mix the meat and the sauce till the meat is coated, feel free to add more sauce but make sure you keep 3-4 tablespoons aside as you will need these later
4. In a large mixing bowl add your pasta and 2/3rds of your bechamel and mix to combine. Press the bechamel into the pasta so it fills the tubes
5. In an 8 X 13-inch baking dish, put half of your pasta and press it into a flat layer. Make sure not to leave any gaps and compress it well
6. Add your meat mixture and flatten until level, press down to compress
7. Add the rest of your pasta in an even layer on top of the meat and press flat. Fill in any gaps all the way to the edge
8. Add the remaining tomato sauce and spread thinly over the pasta
9. Finally, cover the tomato sauce with the rest of the bechamel you set aside earlier, spreading it into an even layer and smoothing the top
10. Beat your egg and brush or pour over the top

To cook:

1. Preheat your oven to 180c or 350f
2. Place the dish into the center of the oven and cook for 45 minutes until golden brown on top
3. Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 30 minutes
4. Cut into 8-10 portions and enjoy