Importance Score: 20 / 100 🔵
Mary Berry’s Simplified Pasta Bake Recipe for a Satisfying Meal
Creating a delightful pasta bake is straightforward with Mary Berry’s accessible recipe, designed for easy preparation, even in advance. This aubergine lasagne delivers a comforting and fulfilling dining experience, ideal for sharing with loved ones or enjoying as a personal treat. It’s an excellent method for utilizing leftover ingredients and minimizing food waste while crafting a genuinely delicious dish. This Mary Berry recipe is perfect for a weeknight meal or a weekend gathering.
Versatile and Flavourful Aubergine Lasagne
The combination of pasta layers, rich sauce, melted cheese, and optional vegetables or proteins results in a well-rounded and substantial meal. This highly adaptable recipe can be modified to suit individual preferences. Mary Berry proposes an aubergine lasagne, celebrated for its “depth of flavour and melting, cheesy texture.”
Preparing the Aubergine: Roasting for Enhanced Flavour
Pre-heat and Prepare Baking Trays
If serving the pasta bake on the same day, preheat your oven to gas mark six. Line two baking trays with non-stick parchment paper.
Roast the Aubergine
Arrange the aubergine slices in a single layer across the prepared trays. Drizzle with oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Roast in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until softened and slightly browned.
Pasta and Béchamel Sauce Preparation
Softening the Pasta
Place the pasta sheets in a dish and cover them with hot water for approximately 10 minutes to soften while you prepare the sauces.
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Crafting the Béchamel Sauce
Begin the béchamel sauce by melting butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, gradually sprinkle in the flour, whisking continuously for several minutes to create a smooth roux. Slowly pour in warmed milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Bring the sauce to a gentle boil, continuing to whisk until it thickens to a smooth consistency. Stir in the mustard and two-thirds of the parmesan cheese.
Tomato Sauce and Lasagne Assembly
Preparing the Tomato Sauce
For the tomato sauce, combine all tomato sauce ingredients in a mixing bowl and season adequately with salt and pepper to enhance the flavours.
Layering the Lasagne
To assemble your aubergine lasagne, spoon one-third of the tomato sauce evenly into the base of a prepared baking dish. Top with one-third of the béchamel sauce, followed by a layer of one-third of the roasted aubergines and three sheets of softened lasagne pasta. Repeat these layers twice more, ensuring you have three layers of sauce and two layers of pasta. Finish by sprinkling the remaining parmesan cheese over the top layer.
Resting and Baking Instructions
Resting Period
Allow the assembled lasagne to rest for one hour at room temperature before baking. For make-ahead convenience, it can be refrigerated overnight.
Baking to Perfection
Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling hot.
Serving Suggestion
The resulting pasta bake is a delectable lasagne that pairs wonderfully with a crisp side salad or warm garlic bread for a complete and satisfying meal.