Classic Beef Lasagne

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 slice bacon
• 1 onion
• 1 celery stalk
• 1 carrot
• 2 clove garlic
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 28 oz chopped tomatoes
• 1 tbsp honey
• ¾ lb lasagne sheets
• 1.7 cup crème fraîche
• 4½ oz mozzarella balls
• 2 oz Parmesan cheese
• ¼ cup basil leaves (optional)
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper

Steps

1. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan. Snip or chop bacon and cook until golden. Add chopped onion, celery, and carrot; cook for 5 minutes until softened.
2. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook for about 6 minutes until browned.
3. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add chopped tomatoes, fill cans halfway with water to rinse, and add to the pan. Stir in honey and season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Ladle a thin layer of ragu into the bottom of a roasting tin or casserole dish. Arrange 2 lasagne sheets over the sauce, overlapping slightly.
5. Repeat layering with more sauce and pasta for two more layers, finishing with a layer of pasta.
6. In a bowl, mix crème fraîche with 2 tablespoons of water until smooth. Pour this over the top pasta layer, then top with mozzarella and sprinkle with Parmesan.
7. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden and bubbling. Let rest for a few minutes before serving.
8. Garnish with fresh basil leaves, if desired.