Three-color Lasagna with Pesto, Béchamel and Ragù

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Three-color Lasagna with pesto, béchamel and ragù

Discover the perfect and spectacular recipe to bring the flavors and colors of Italian tradition to the table in a single, tasty baked first course.
The Three-color Lasagna: with pesto, béchamel and ragù is
the perfect first course to celebrate April 25th and June 2nd, bringing the symbol of Italy to the table.
This show-stopping recipe combines the freshness of pesto with the creaminess of béchamel and the richness of ragù, turning the holiday lunch into a true tricolor tribute.
​Easy to assemble but visually striking, it’s an ideal idea to surprise friends and family during the most heartfelt civic celebrations.

But not only: being three flavors it suits the different tastes of the whole family.

Thought for you:

Three-color lasagna with pesto, béchamel and ragù
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Cost: Medium
  • Rest time: 10 Minutes
  • Preparation time: 2 Hours
  • Cooking time: 25 Minutes
  • Portions: 10
  • Cooking methods: Boiling, Oven
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Seasonality: Republic Day, All seasons

Ingredients Three-color Lasagna with pesto, béchamel and ragù

Let’s go shopping

  • 300 g béchamel
  • 150 g Genovese pesto
  • 1 costa celery stalk
  • 1 carrot
  • Mezza onion
  • 50 g extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 rametto rosemary sprig
  • 250 g veal (ground (second cut))
  • 250 g pork (ground)
  • 100 g pancetta (diced)
  • 70 ml red wine
  • 1 cucchiaio tomato paste
  • 70 ml milk
  • q.b. salt
  • q.b. pepper
  • 500 g béchamel
  • 100 g provola
  • 300 g egg lasagna sheets
  • 300 g mozzarella (or provola)
  • 100 g grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • q.b. basil

Three-color Lasagna with pesto, béchamel and ragù

Tools

We need these.

  • 2 Pots
  • 3 Bowls
  • 1 Lasagna pan large
  • 1 Knife

Steps

Let’s go to the kitchen

  • First, prepare the ragù alla bolognese

    Wash the celery and carrot and peel the onion. Finely chop all the vegetables with a food processor or mezzaluna.

    vegetable mix
  • Prepare a wide, not very tall pot with a double layer on the bottom to prevent the ragù from sticking while cooking.
     Pour the extra-virgin olive oil into the pot and add the minced vegetables, and let them sauté slowly without raising the heat.

    chopped
  • They should cook for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
     Meanwhile, wash and finely chop the rosemary.
    When the vegetables are softened, raise the heat and add the diced pancetta and the meat, a little at a time, stirring.

  • Add the chopped rosemary and let everything flavor together until the moisture has evaporated and the color has changed.

  • Now deglaze with the red wine and continue cooking over high heat until it has completely evaporated and the meat has darkened taking color from the wine.

  • Do not add the sauce if the wine has not completely evaporated because there must be no trace of alcohol, which would give the sauce an unpleasant taste.
     As soon as the wine has evaporated, add the tomato passata and the tomato paste, a couple of generous pinches of salt, a generous grind of pepper and stir.

  • Cover and wait until it starts to simmer again.
     At this point transfer the pot to a low flame relative to its size and reduce the heat to a very low simmer.

  • The ragù must cook for 3 hours with the lid on. Stir it occasionally with a wooden spoon. After the indicated time, taste and adjust the salt.
     For a good ragù alla bolognese, here comes the magic touch that sets it apart from other ragùs.

    milk
  • The ragù alla bolognese, following the original recipe, is now ready to be used.

    The Original Bolognese Sauce Recipe
  • This is based on béchamel, so we will make all the béchamel needed for the other preparations and then divide it.

    Above in the ingredients I divided the various quantities of béchamel needed for the different sauces; below I will give the whole procedure if you want to make it at home using 1 liter of milk.

    Traditional and Bimby Béchamel
  • 1 liter whole milk
    100 g butter
    100 g all-purpose flour
    Half a teaspoon nutmeg
    1 teaspoon salt (level)
    pepper to taste

  • The béchamel
    Pour the milk into a small saucepan, add the nutmeg and salt, and warm it up.
    Put the butter in another small saucepan and let it melt gently, then add the flour all at once, whisking vigorously by hand to prevent lumps.

    Butter and flour
  • You will see the mixture turn golden; that is the roux. Now gradually pour the hot milk in, stirring vigorously to avoid lumps.
    Continue to stir over low heat until the béchamel reaches the desired creaminess.

    milk
  • Once the béchamel is ready, divide it into 3 parts: one portion to mix with the pesto, two ladles for the base of the pan, and the rest for the white cheese sauce.
    Leave it in the pot and while it is still hot, add the finely grated provola and mix. Set aside.

  • Now prepare the green sauce, that is, the pesto which you can buy or make following my recipe.
    Once the béchamel has cooled slightly you can mix it with the pesto.

  • Here are the three sauces ready.

    Three-color lasagna with pesto, béchamel and ragù
  • In a baking pan make a layer of béchamel.
    Then a layer of lasagna sheets.

  • Then divide the surface into three parts: one will be made with the green sauce, one with the white cheese sauce and the other with the ragù.

    Three-color lasagna with pesto, béchamel and ragù
  • Scatter a little mozzarella, and continue like this until you have used all the ingredients.

    Three-color lasagna with pesto, béchamel and ragù
  • Finally, sprinkle with Parmigiano-Reggiano.

    Three-color lasagna with pesto, béchamel and ragù
  • Cover the pan with a sheet of parchment paper and then a sheet of aluminum foil on top.
    Bake in a conventional oven at 356°F for 25 minutes.
    After the time has passed, let rest for 10 minutes and then serve.

    Here is the Three-color Lasagna with pesto, béchamel and ragù.

    Three-color lasagna with pesto, béchamel and ragù

Storage for Three-color Lasagna with pesto, béchamel and ragù

It keeps up to 2 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer.

Three-color lasagna with pesto, béchamel and ragù

FAQ Three-color Lasagna with pesto, béchamel and ragù

  • Can I use fresh lasagna sheets?

    Yes, of course — fresh, dried, or low-glycemic FiberPasta all work.

    fiberPasta

Three-color Lasagna with pesto, béchamel and ragù

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ritaamordicucina

The cooking blog Rita Amordicucina offers a wide range of recipes, with a particular focus on the cuisine of Northeastern Sicily and Messina. It specializes in fish recipes, pastries, and diet dishes, demonstrating how one can eat deliciously while maintaining a healthy weight. Its motto, "Do what you can with what you have, wherever you are," reflects its desire to teach cooking with limited resources. In addition to the blog, it has participated in television shows and food festivals.

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