Lasagne Bolognese al Forno

4 extra-large eggs
6 ounces frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and squeezed very dry and
chopped very fine
3 1/2 to 4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus 1/2 cup for dusting
the work surface
1/2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 recipe ragu Bolognese, recipe below
1 recipe besciamella, recipe below
8 ounces Parmigiano-Reggiano, for grating

Combine eggs and spinach. Mound 3 1/2 cups of the flour in the center of a large wooden cutting board. Make a well in the middle of the flour and add the egg and spinach mixture and the olive oil. Using a fork, beat together the spinach, eggs and oil and begin to incorporate the flour, starting with the inner rim of the well.

As you expand the well, keep pushing the flour up from the base of the mound to retain the well shape. The dough will come together when half of the flour is incorporated.

Start kneading the dough with both hands, using the palms of your hands. Once you have a cohesive mass, remove the dough from the board and scrape up and discard any leftover bits. Lightly reflour the board and continue kneading for 6 more minutes. The dough should be elastic and a little sticky. Wrap the dough in plastic and allow to rest for 30 minutes at room temperature. Divide the dough into 3 equal portions and roll each out to the thinnest setting on a pasta rolling machine.

Bring about 6 quarts of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons salt. Set up an ice bath next to the stove top. Cut the pasta into 20 (5-inch) squares and drop into the boiling water. Cook 1 minute, until tender. Drain well and refresh in the ice bath. Drain on towels and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 375° F. In a brownie pan, assemble the lasagne, beginning with a layer of ragu, a sprinkling of grated Parmigiano, a layer of pasta, a layer of bechamel, a layer of ragu, a sprinkling of grated Parmigiano etc. until all sauce and pasta are used up. The top layer should be pasta with bechamel over it.

Top the lasagne with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and bake in the oven for 30 to 45 minutes, until the edges are browned and the sauces are bubbling. Remove and allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing.

Ragu Bolognese
Recipe from Mario Batali.
Yield: 4 servings

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 tablespoons butter
2 medium onions, finely chopped
4 stalks celery, finely chopped
1 carrot, scraped and finely chopped
5 cloves garlic, sliced
1 pound veal, ground
1 pound pork, ground
1/2 pound beef, ground
1/4 pound pancetta, ground
1/2 cup milk
1 (16-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand, with the juices
1 cup dry white wine
2 cups brodo
Salt and pepper

In a 6 to 8-quart, heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add onion, celery, carrot and garlic and sweat over medium heat until vegetables are translucent. Add veal, pork, beef and pancetta and stir into vegetables. Brown over high heat, stirring to keep meat from sticking together. This should take 15 to 20 minutes.

Add the milk and simmer until reduced to nothing, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and simmer 15 minutes. Add the wine and brodo, bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer over for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Season with salt and pepper, to taste and remove from heat.

Besciamela (Bechamel Sauce)
Recipe from Mario Batali
Yield: 3 cups
5 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
3 cups milk
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

In a medium saucepan, heat butter until melted. Add flour and stir until smooth. Over medium heat, cook until light golden brown, about 6 to 7 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat milk in separate pan until just about to boil. Add milk to butter mixture 1 cup at a time, whisking continuously until very smooth and bring to a boil. Cook 10 minutes and remove from heat. Season with salt and nutmeg and set aside.

Serves 6