You might think this dish takes too much time to make but it is totally worth it and everybody is going to love it.

Lasagna is one of those plates that taste like home. There are many variations out there but this one is simple, delicious and totally kids friendly!

Save some time making the meat sauce ahead or you could always buy it ready and jump that step, don’t forget that homemade is always special though.

Preparation time: 4 hours
Yields: 8 portions

Ingredients:

For the meat sauce:

• 1lb of ground beef
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 2 tbsp of oil
• 1 28-oz can of tomato puree
• 56 oz of water
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
• Salt to taste
• Ground pepper to taste

For the white sauce:

• 3 cups of milk
• 8 tbsp of butter
• 4 tbsp of all purpose flour
• A pinch of salt

To assemble:

• 1lb of lasagna pasta
• ½ cup of parmesan cheese
• 3/4c of mozzarella cheese

Method:

For the meat sauce:

1. In a large pot over medium heat, add your oil and smashed garlic cloves.
2. When already heated, add the ground beef into the pot.
3. Mix in your salt and pepper to season the meat while cooking.
4. When already cooked, pour the tomato puree and stir.
5. Add half of the water and stir again. You will need to leave it there over low heat for an hour. The water will reduce down while helping to cook the tomato puree.
6. When the water is totally reduced, add the remaining water, stir and wait until the water reduces again.
7. When the water is reduced the second time, add the parmesan cheese and give it a last good stir. Set aside to assemble later.

For the white sauce (Bechamel):

1. Place a medium pot over low heat and add your butter to melt.
2. When the butter is completely melted, add the flour and stir continuously for about 5 minutes or until golden. You need the flour to cook so it won’t taste as raw flour.
3. Add the milk and pinch of salt; whisk to combine all the ingredients.
4. Cook until the sauce thickens, stirring now and then.
5. Set aside to assemble.

To assemble:

1. Cook your lasagna pasta if necessary and set aside.
2. Preheat the oven to 350º F.
3. Take a medium to large size pan and add a first layer of pasta. Make sure to cover the bottom completely.
4. Pour some meat sauce on top, about ¼ cup, and spread evenly.
5. Add a new layer of pasta.
6. Now add ¼ cup of bechamel sauce and spread.
7. Cover the white sauce with mozzarella cheese and repeat the same steps.
8. The layers have to be: pasta, meat sauce, pasta, white sauce, mozzarella and repeat.
9. End your lasagna with white sauce and mozzarella on top and.
10. Sprinkle parmesan cheese all over the top.
11. Bake for 50 minutes or until golden on top.
12. When ready, let it cool down for at least 15 minutes before serving.