Lasagna di San Gimignano
Italian Food Forever has been online now for over seventeen years. Although there have been times over the years that I became tired of blogging, I have met so many extraordinary people through my blog and have had so many loyal followers, for those reasons, I stuck with it. Over the years, I have gone through at least four new blog redesigns, and with each new design, I have to take new photos and retest many of my older recipes. Some recipes have never made it back onto the newer blogs, including this lasagna recipe. This is a tomato-free recipe that consists of a rich beef sauce and a creamy béchamel layered between delicate pasta sheets. I use a thickened beef extract for this sauce, which adds the richness needed. The product I use is found only in Italy, but you can use a thickened beef gravy product such as Better Than Bullion to get the same results.
I tasted this recipe at a restaurant in San Gimignano while traveling in Tuscany when we lived in Milan, Italy many years ago. I really enjoyed the unique flavor of this lasagna, so when we returned from our trip to Tuscany, I worked at duplicating it in my own kitchen. This recipe is pretty close to the one I enjoyed so much, and I have made it often over the years, but for some reason, I had forgotten about it the past year or two. I came across it again recently and decided that I needed to share it again.
Buon Appetito!
Deborah Mele 2019
Lasagna di San Gimignano
This is a tomato-free recipe that consists of a rich beef sauce and a creamy béchamel layered between delicate pasta sheets.
Ingredients
- Fresh Pasta Noodles (Store Bought or From Recipe Below)
- Meat Sauce (See Below)
- Béchamel (See Below)
- 1 Cup Shredded Fresh Mozzarella
- 1 Cup Grated Pecorino Cheese
Pasta:
- 4 cups Unbleached Flour
- 5 Extra Large Eggs
- Pinch Of Salt
Meat Sauce:
- 1 Medium Onion, Minced
- 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 1/2 Pounds Of Ground Beef
- 2 to 3 Tablespoons Beef Extract
- 1 1/2 Cups Beef Broth
- 2 Tablespoons Softened Butter Mixed With 2 Tablespoons Flour
- Salt & Pepper To Taste
Béchamel Sauce:
- 4 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- 1/4 Cup All-purpose Flour
- 1 1/2 to 2 Cups Milk
- Salt
- Dash of Nutmeg
Instructions
- Prepare pasta with ingredients listed. Using a pasta machine take to the second last notch, or to about 1/16th inch thick if making by hand. Cut into sheets and place on clean towels. Precook pasta squares in salted boiling water for 10 seconds only. Immediately place into iced water. Dry and lay on clean kitchen towels until ready to use.
- Sauté the onion in the oil until soft and beginning to color. Add the ground beef and cook for about 10 minutes or until browned. Start adding the broth, scraping any browned bits off the bottom. Cook for about 45 minutes. Begin to add the extract until a full rich beef flavor is reached. Be careful not to add too much or it will be too salty. Carefully adding 1 teaspoon at a time, add the butter mixture, stirring well until the mixture is thickened but still wet. Set aside.
- Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan add the flour and cook for a minute or two. Do not let brown. Slowly add the milk, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Continue cooking until the sauce thickens. Season with salt, white pepper and a dash of nutmeg. Set aside to cool, placing a greased piece of plastic wrap on top to prevent film from forming.
- To Prepare The Lasagna: Pour in a little beef broth into a 13 by 8 inch lasagne pan. Layer the noodles along the bottom. Spread one layer of the meat sauce, then another layer of noodles. Spread a layer of béchamel over these noodles then sprinkle with a little of the mozzarella and the pecorino cheese. Continue in this manner until all the noodles are used, topping the dish with the béchamel layer and cheeses. Dot the top with butter and bake in 375 degree oven for about 40 minutes or until bubbling and lightly browned.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1 squareAmount Per Serving: Calories: 873Total Fat: 44gSaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 258mgSodium: 848mgCarbohydrates: 66gFiber: 3gSugar: 3gProtein: 49g
Wow! This is my first recipe I viewed as I just found your site. I can tell it is a must do. Never thought of this type of lasagna, it sounds wonderful! Will let you know when I make it. Thank you! So excited for authentic recipes from Italia 🙂
This is close to the Greek Pasticcio, of which I am very fond of.
I read your recipes and have tried several with excellent results but what I enjoy reading most are your trips to Italy and back to USA. I was raised in Italy, we, my family, came to America when I was a teenager . While my mom was with us we traveled back to Italy frequently, not so much since she passed. I’m trying to save money so that my husband and I can visit Italy. I cannot express to you how much I miss Italy, my friends and family and my hometown; It’s been too long. I enjoy your stories and envy you as well. Enjoy your trip back and continue to write from Italy. I would love it if you could include a few pictures.
Thank you.
Angie
Thank you for very tasty recipe.
Greetings from Athens Greece.
Visited San Gimignano this past May. Had this lasagna at Tenuta Torciano winery. It’s almost exactly like the way both my Nonna’s
(From Marche) prepare it. So I’m getting their handwritten instructions out to make it tomorrow. Haven’t made it in quite some time. I absolutely love it. We add the very slightest whisper of clove to the sauce. Everyone always comments on that amazing flavor but can’t quite identify it!
I made this for my daughter and her husband who are enchanted with San Gimignano. They raved about it and were hoarding leftovers! Thank you so much for this fabulous recipe.
My husband and I visited Umbria in September 2016 and have been following your blog ever since. It was our first visit to that region and will not be our last!