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A spatula lifting a slice of lasagna bolognese from a stoneware baking dish.

Authentic Italian Lasagna Alla Bolognese

This authentic recipe for Italian Lasagna Alla Bolognese is so different from the traditional Italian-American style Lasagna (in the best way). Slathered in a creamy bechamel sauce, it's rich, meaty and will melt in your mouth. 
5 from 6 votes
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Course: main dish
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: baked pasta, bechamel sauce, homemade lasagne noodles, homemade pasta, lasagna bolognese, ragu bolognese
Prep Time: 3 hours
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 894kcal

Ingredients

For the Ragu Bolognese

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 carrot finely diced
  • 1 medium onion finely diced
  • 1 rib celery finely diced
  • 1 clove garlic thinly sliced
  • 1 pound ground veal
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 4 ounces ¼ lb pancetta ground or finely diced
  • cup tomato paste
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

For the lasagne noodles

  • 5 large eggs room temperature
  • ¾ cup packed cooked spinach or defrosted frozen spinach
  • 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 ½ cups all purpose flour plus more as needed

For the Bechamel Sauce

  • 5 tablespoons butter
  • 4 tablespoons flour
  • 3 cups milk
  • ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • 8 ounces grated good quality parmesan cheese recommended: Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano

Instructions

For the Ragu Bolognese

  • Heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat in a large heavy-bottomed pot. 
  • Add the carrot, onions, celery, and garlic and cook, while stirring, until translucent, about 10 minutes.
  • Add the veal, pork, and pancetta, and turn the heat to high. Use a wooden spoon to stir and break up the meat until it’s very browned, about 20 minutes. 
  • Add the tomato paste and stir until it deepens slightly in color, about 3 minutes. 
  • Add the wine, scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan and cook until it's reduced by more than half.
  • Add the milk and stir until it comes to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 ½ to 2 hours. Season with salt and pepper and set aside. 

Make the Lasagna Noodles

  • Place the spinach in a dish towel and squeeze it to remove as much liquid as possible. Puree the spinach in a food processor or finely chop by hand.
  • Pour 3 ½ cups of flour into the center of a large workspace, making a well in the center. 
  • Add the eggs, spinach, and ½ teaspoon of olive oil to the well and gently start beating the eggs with a fork.
  • Slowly begin incorporating the flour from the inner rim of the well, being careful to retain the sides of the well so that the egg mixture does not escape.
  • Once most of the flour is moistened, start kneading the dough until it's elastic and slightly sticky (for about 5 to 6 minutes), adding a bit more olive oil if it's too dry. Wrap the dough in plastic and allow it to rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.
  • Divide the dough into three equal portions, then roll each out as thin as possible, using a rolling pin or a pasta rolling machine. Cut the dough into wide strips.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil, and season liberally with salt. Set up an ice bath next to the stove. 
  • Working in batches, cook the strips of pasta for one minute, then immediately shock them in the ice bath. Drain well on towels and set aside.

Make the Creamy Bechamel Sauce

  • Make a roux by melting butter in a medium saucepan, then whisk in the flour until smooth. Cook while stirring over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until the mixture is light golden brown. 
  • Add milk to the roux 1 cup at a time, whisking continuously until very smooth, then bring the mixture to a boil. Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes, then remove from the heat. 
  • Season the sauce with nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste.

Assemble and Bake

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 
  • Ladle a small amount of ragu in a 9x13 inch baking dish and spread it out to cover, then top with a sprinkling of grated parmesan cheese. 
  • Assemble the lasagna by layering sheets of pasta, then a thin layer of béchamel sauce, then a thin layer of ragu and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Repeat until all sauce and pasta are used up, finishing with a top layer of pasta with béchamel over it. Top with lots of grated parmesan. 
  • Bake for about 30 to 45 minutes, or until bubbling and browned around the edges. 
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing.

Notes

  • Ask your butcher to freshly grind the veal, pork and pancetta for best results. 
  • Make your pasta strips as long and wide as you’d like. Standard lasagna noodles are 9 to 10 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide. 
  • When making the bechamel sauce, stir the roux constantly to keep the flour from burning. It’s helpful to have the milk ready to pour it in before the flour burns if it starts cooking too quickly. 
  • Whisk the bechamel continuously until thick to prevent lumps from forming. 
  • You'll know the bechamel is done when it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
  • If making the bolognese sauce in advance, be sure to warm it up prior to layering the lasagna.
  • You can omit the spinach from the pasta dough or substitute store bought fresh pasta noodles.

Nutrition

Calories: 894kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 50g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 259mg | Sodium: 888mg | Potassium: 877mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 2590IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 546mg | Iron: 5mg