Renowned TV chef Mary Berry has unveiled a delightful twist on the classic lasagne, designed to be straightforward and enjoyable for all the family. Her recipe, featured in the Cook and Share book, promises a creamy and flavourful dish that simplifies traditional methods while packing in nutritious vegetables.
A Family-Friendly Culinary Creation
Mary Berry's chicken, spinach, and tomato lasagne serves six to eight people, making it ideal for larger households or gatherings. In her recipe description, she emphasises its appeal, stating, "A wonderful dish for all the family. Make a couple of these when hungry teenagers are at home!"
The chef has cleverly streamlined the process by using a creamy sauce instead of a traditional white sauce, reducing layers without compromising on taste. She also recommends soaking lasagne sheets in water beforehand to ensure they cook to a tender perfection.
Convenience for Busy Schedules
This recipe is tailored for modern lifestyles, offering practical time-saving tips. It can be assembled up to six hours in advance, perfect for hectic weeknights, and freezes well uncooked, supporting batch cooking for future meals.
Ingredients and Method Overview
The dish requires simple ingredients, including fresh lasagne sheets, grated cheddar cheese, diced chicken thighs, red chilli, garlic, button mushrooms, baby spinach, cornflour, crème fraiche, chopped tomatoes, sun-dried tomato paste, and herbs like parsley and thyme.
Preparation involves:
- Preheating the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.
- Creating a chicken, mushroom, and spinach mixture by frying ingredients and thickening with a cornflour blend.
- Mixing a tomato and herb sauce with tomatoes, paste, and thyme.
- Soaking lasagne sheets in boiling water to soften.
- Layering the components in a shallow dish, finishing with cheese, and baking for 35-40 minutes until golden.
Serve with salad or green vegetables for a complete meal. This approach highlights Mary Berry's expertise in making home cooking accessible and delicious for everyone.
