Lasagne Bolognese With Spinach

In the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, lasagne bolognese is usually made with a besciamella sauce. Italian-American cooks often replace that time-consuming step with ricotta. In this wickedly good interpretation, food editor Melissa Roberts combines the two traditions by whisking milk into some of the ricotta, creating a billowy pseudo-besciamella (the remaining ricotta mixture is stirred together with spinach). We rarely call for specific brands, but we did find that widely available Barilla no-boil dried noodles produced an exemplary lasagne. An egg pasta, this one comes very close to the flavor and delicacy of homemade.

Yield:

Serves 8

Ingredients

1. FOR BOLOGNESE SAUCE
2. =======================
3. 1/4 cup olive oil
4. 3 oz sliced pancetta, finely chopped
5. 1 medium onion, finely chopped
6. 1 large carrot, finely chopped
7. 1 celery rib, finely chopped
8. 2 garlic cloves, chopped
9. 2 lb ground beef chuck (not lean)
10. 1 1/2 cups dry white wine
11. 1 1/2 cups whole milk
12. 1/4 cup tomato paste
13. 1 1/2 teaspoons thyme leaves
14. .
15. FOR RICOTTA FILLING
16. =======================
17. 2 (10-oz) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed
18. 2 (15-oz) containers whole-milk ricotta
19. 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
20. 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
21. 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
22. 3/4 cup whole milk, divided
23. .
24. FOR ASSEMBLING LASAGNE
25. =======================
26. 12 Barilla no-boil dried lasagne noodles (from 1 box)
27. 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Directions

1. MAKE SAUCE:
2. Heat oil in a 12- to 14-inch heavy skillet over medium heat until it shimmers. Cook pancetta, onion, carrot, celery, and garlic, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are golden and softened, 12 to 15 minutes. Add beef and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up any lumps, until meat is no longer pink, 6 to 10 minutes. Stir in wine, milk, tomato paste, thyme, 1/4 tsp salt, and 3/4 tsp pepper. Simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until most of liquid has evaporated but sauce is still moist, about 1 hour.
3. MAKE RICOTTA FILLING:
4. Put spinach in a kitchen towel (not terry cloth) and twist to squeeze out as much moisture as possible.
5. Whisk together ricotta, eggs, parmesan, nutmeg, 1 1/4 tsp salt, and 1 tsp pepper. Transfer 1 1/2 cups ricotta mixture to another bowl and whisk in 1/4 cup milk; set aside. Whisk spinach into remaining filling with remaining 1/2 cup milk.
6. ASSEMBLE AND BAKE LASAGNE:
7. Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle.
8. Soak noodles in a bowl of very warm water until pliable but not softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Place on a kitchen towel (it's not necessary to pat noodles dry).
9. Spread 1 1/2 cups bolognese sauce in baking pan and sprinkle with 1 Tbsp parmesan. Cover with 3 noodles, leaving space in between. Spread half of spinach filling on top, then 1 cup bolognese sauce, and top with 1 Tbsp parmesan and 3 noodles; repeat. Top with remaining bolognese sauce, 1 Tbsp parmesan, and remaining 3 noodles. Pour reserved ricotta mixture over top and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup parmesan.
10. Cover pan tightly with parchment paper and foil (or just buttered foil) and bake 50 minutes. Remove foil and bake until top is browned in spots, about 15 minutes more. Let stand 15 to 30 minutes before cutting.

Notes

Bolognese sauce can be made 2 days ahead and chilled (covered once cool).Lasagne can be made 1 day ahead and chilled. Reheat in a 350°F oven, loosely covered with foil.