Cook the pasta in plenty of boiling salted water (4¼ cups of water and a heaping teaspoon of salt for every 4 oz of pasta), following the package directions (taste about 2 minutes early), until al dente.
⚙ Cooking in salted waterStovePot
💡The water should taste like a seasoned soup, not like sea water: a heaping teaspoon of salt per liter. Add the salt once the water is boiling.
2
Drain.
Colander
For the Béchamel
3
Melt the butter in a pot over medium heat, add the flour and stir 1–2 minutes, until a smooth roux forms and starts to bubble.
StovePot
4
Gradually add the milk, whisking constantly, and cook 5–8 minutes, until the sauce is thick and coats the back of a spoon.
StoveWhisk
💡Add the milk slowly, whisking constantly, so no lumps form. For lasagna, the common ratio is about 7 g flour per 100 ml milk (4 tablespoons flour to 2 cups): more flour gives a thick béchamel, for moussaka; less flour gives a soft béchamel, for a sauce.
5
Season with salt.
To assemble
6
Add the cheese to the hot sauce and stir until the cheese melts.
💡Add the cheese to a hot but not boiling sauce: boiling splits the cheese, and the sauce turns grainy and greasy.
7
Toss the pasta in the cheese sauce, adding a little of the cooking water if it's too thick.
720calories
29 gprotein
83 gcarbs
28 gfat
● protein 17%● carbs 47%● fat 36%
Per serving (291 g), of 4 servings
For the Cooked pasta · For the Béchamel · To assemble ·
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Stove· 💡 Workaround, changes the dish: Portable hot plate (one weaker burner) · Camping gas stove (One burner, outdoors) · Electric pressure cooker (multicooker) (One pot, no real shallow frying)
Pot· Also works: Deep skillet (sauté pan) (less liquid, faster evaporation)· 💡 Workaround, changes the dish: Wok (For quick cooking)
Colander· Also works: Lid (a lid held slightly open over the sink, you lose a little) · Slotted spoon (for small amounts)
Whisk· Also works: Hand mixer (None)· 💡 Workaround, changes the dish: Fork (Beat with a fork, less air)
By the steps, as the recipe is built now: another version or addition can change the list.
Possible additions: Mozzarella · Cream cheese · Mustard · Smoked paprika · Cumin · Pepper · Breadcrumbs on top · Baked in a pan (20) · Oven temperature (°C) (180) · Parmesan on top before baking · Fried mushrooms · Butter for frying the mushrooms · Parmesan for serving
