Parma Ham and Spinach Lasagne

Spinach and Parma Pasta

Start by preheating oven to 180 degrees.

You will need:

2 cloves garlic finely chopped

2 green chilies (chop one finely for sauce and can keep the other for garnish)   

Glug of olive oil

2 tins of chopped tomatoes (I like tin that has garlic or herbs added to it)

5 slices Parma Ham

Worth getting a good quality Parma Ham as this adds amazing flavor to the dish.

2 tsp dried Italian herbs

1 chopped red onion

1 large packet of chopped spinach

Half a cup water

3 tbs tomato sauce (All Gold) to add a little sweetness to the sauce

Lasagne sheet 250g 

I prefer pre-cooked as it takes less time 

1.Start by frying onion, chili and the garlic in a little oil. Add spinach and the ham. It might look like far too much spinach but remember this will cook down and wilt to about half the size.

2. Add the tinned tomatoes and cook for a further 5 min before adding the tomato sauce.

3.Add a half a cup water to mixture and let it simmer while you start on the cheese sauce (it might seem very watery but the lasagne sheets will need this excess liquid to cook). Now for the Cheese sauce...

To make cheese sauce you will need to top the lasagne:

2 heaped tbs butter or margarine 

3 heaped tbs flour

2 and a half cups milk

1 cup grated cheese (strong matured cheddar ideal)

nutmeg to sprinkle over sauce (grating your own fresh nutmeg worth the effort)

4. To make cheese sauce start by melting the butter, then adding the flour to form a flour paste. The trick with cheese sauce is not to leave it as it will become lumpy ans you will need to stir it continuously until it thickens. I also prefer stirring with a whisk. 

5. Start layering the pasta sheets and spinach.

6. Top with the cheese sauce and a little Nutmeg. 

7. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 35 min, test if pasta cooked through with knife before removing from oven.

8. When the pasta is soft and cooked through remove from the oven and serve. Add a crack of fresh black pepper and chili to finish. Best served with a glass of red vino.