Yuletide Lasagne

A rich festive lasagne that transforms leftover Christmas meats into layers of comfort, with a robust tomato and wine sauce and a creamy cheddar béchamel.

By Ricky Robinson Updated December 22, 2023

This is a hearty and comforting lasagne that makes brilliant use of any cooked meats left over from Christmas dinner. Turkey, ham, or cocktail sausages all work well here, either on their own or mixed together. It's a proper winter dish that turns what might have been a simple sandwich into something worth sitting down for.

The sauce starts with a fragrant base of red onion, garlic, and fresh rosemary sautéed in olive oil. Once that's softened, you add chopped tomatoes, red wine, tomato puree, oregano, and a bay leaf. The wine gives the sauce a good depth of flavour, and simmering it for 30 to 40 minutes lets everything thicken and concentrate. Then the chopped leftover meat goes in and simmers for another 15 minutes to soak up all those rich flavours. It's straightforward cooking, but the results are anything but ordinary.

The cheese sauce is a classic béchamel made richer with double cream and a generous handful of mature cheddar. You start with a butter and flour roux, cooking it until it turns a deep golden brown for extra flavour. Then the milk and cream go in gradually, whisked carefully to avoid lumps, creating a thick, velvety sauce.

Yuletide Lasagne recipe image
Yuletide Lasagne

Layering the lasagne is simple enough. A thin layer of meat sauce goes down first, then dried lasagne sheets that overlap slightly, followed by the cheese sauce. Repeat this two more times, finishing with a final sprinkle of cheese on top. The whole thing bakes at 170°C for 45 minutes until it's bubbling and golden.

Letting the lasagne rest for 20 minutes after baking is important. It makes serving much easier and gives the flavours time to settle.

This lasagne is a great way to give those Christmas leftovers a second life. It's comforting, cheesy, and satisfying in the way only a proper lasagne can be. Perfect for feeding the family when you're all a bit tired of cold turkey sandwiches.

Yuletide Lasagne

Total Time 2 hrs 20 min
Servings 8 servings
Calories 520 cal
Protein 35g

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Large Pan
  • Whisk
  • Large Baking Dish
  • Oven

Instructions

  1. 1
    Preheat the oven to 170°C
  2. 2
    Heat the oil in a large pan or casserole dish. Add the onion, rosemary, and garlic, and cook for 5-10 minutes, until the onions are beginning to soften.
  3. 3
    Add the oregano, tomatoes, tomato puree, wine, beef stock, and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper and bring to the boil. Then reduce the heat and leave to simmer for 30-40 minutes, until the sauce has thickened.
  4. 4
    Chop up the meat then stir into the sauce and simmer for another 15 minutes.
  5. 5
    Now you can get on with the cheese sauce. Put the butter into a pan over a medium heat and once melted, add the flour. Cook, while stirring, for 5 minutes until the butter mixture turns a deep golden brown.
  6. 6
    Whisk the milk and cream together in a measuring jug. Turn the heat to low and add in a few tablespoons of the milk mixture and whisk. It will form a thick paste. Keep adding the milk 2-3 tablespoons at a time, whisking as you go. Only add more milk once fully absorbed. Once all of the milk and cream has been added you will have a smooth, thick, sauce. Simmer gently, while slowly whisking for about 15 minutes. At the end, add 100g of the grated cheese and allow it to melt into the sauce.
  7. 7
    Now it's time to assemble the lasagne. Grease a large dish with butter and add a thin layer of meat sauce. Then, a layer of pasta sheets, making sure they overlap each other, followed by a layer of cheese sauce. Repeat these layers another two times.
  8. 8
    To finish sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top of the final layer of cheese sauce and bake in the oven for 45 minutes.
  9. 9
    Take the lasagne out of the oven and let rest for 20 minutes before serving.
Ricky Robinson - Recipe Author
Ricky Robinson

Home cook sharing delicious recipes with a focus on flavour and simplicity.

Storage

Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Reheat thoroughly before serving.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with a crisp green salad and crusty garlic bread to balance the richness of the lasagne.

Yuletide Lasagne recipe image

Rate & Review

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