Light and Healthy Lasagne

1. Preheat the Oven

• Heat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan) or gas mark 4.

2. Sauté the Vegetables

• In a large frying pan, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
• Set the pan over medium heat and add the finely chopped onion, carrots, celery, and one bay leaf.
• Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft and starting to turn golden.

3. Brown the Mince

• Add 500g of lean beef mince and 3 finely grated garlic cloves to the pan with the vegetables.
• Stir-fry for about 5 minutes until the beef is browned all over.

4. Add the Tomatoes

• Pour in a 400g can of chopped tomatoes, plus a canful of water (about 400ml).
• Stir in 2 tablespoons of tomato purée and 1½ teaspoons of vegetable bouillon powder.
• Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
• After 10 minutes, remove the lid to allow the mixture to reduce slightly.

5. Make the White Sauce

• In a medium saucepan, pour in 400ml of semi-skimmed milk and add 30g of wholemeal flour.
• Whisk together over low heat until the mixture is smooth and lump-free.
• Add the second bay leaf and a generous pinch of nutmeg.
• Continue to cook, whisking constantly, for 8-10 minutes until the sauce thickens.

6. Assemble the Lasagne

• Once the meat sauce and white sauce are ready, remove and discard the bay leaves from both.
• Spoon a third of the meat sauce into the bottom of a 19 x 24 cm baking dish.
• Layer 2 sheets of wholemeal lasagne on top.
• Add half of the remaining meat sauce, followed by 2 more lasagne sheets.
• Top with the rest of the meat sauce and finish with the final 2 sheets of lasagne.

7. Top with White Sauce and Cheese

• Pour the white sauce evenly over the top layer of lasagne.
• Sprinkle 25g of finely grated Parmesan cheese over the white sauce.

8. Bake the Lasagne

• Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes, or until the lasagne is bubbling and golden on top.

9. Serve

• Allow to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your Light and Healthy Lasagne with a side salad or crusty bread!