Indulge in the rich, comforting flavors of traditional lasagna bolognese, reimagined into stunning, bite-sized rosettes that are as delicious as they are visually appealing.
In a world where food media reigns supreme, where the visual appeal of dishes often precedes their taste, finding a dish that satisfies both the eyes and the palate is a rare treat. My friends enjoy sending me the most unappetizing culinary disasters they can find, making the discovery of something both beautiful and scrumptious all the more delightful.
Enter the iconic lasagna for two from Don Angie in New York City’s West Village—a dish that has haunted my culinary dreams since my first taste. This isn’t just lasagna; it’s a culinary sculpture where the classic layers are transformed into vertical rolls, then sliced into elegant rosettes. Baked to perfection and adorned with creamy robiolina cheese, it’s a feast for the senses and a hit on social media. While I’ve spotted pre-made versions in Italian markets, the challenge to recreate this masterpiece at home was irresistible. 
Ingredients for the Bolognese:
- 1 1/4-ounce packet of unflavored gelatin
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 large carrot, finely minced
- 1-2 celery ribs, finely minced
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely minced
- 2 pounds ground meat (beef or a mix of beef, pork, and veal)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup dry red wine
- 1 bay leaf
- Pinch of nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce (optional)
- Kosher salt
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
For the Besciamella:
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 cups whole milk
- Kosher salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg
For the Tomato Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, lightly smashed
- 1 large sprig of fresh basil
- 28-ounce can of whole peeled tomatoes or tomato passata
- Kosher salt
For the Assembly:
- 2 pounds fresh lasagna noodles
- Vegetable oil for greasing
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, diced
- 1 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Directions:
1、For the Bolognese: In a 1-cup liquid measuring cup, sprinkle stock with gelatin; set aside.
2、In a large Dutch oven, melt butter over medium-high heat until foaming. Add carrots, celery, and onions and cook, stirring, until translucent, about 6 minutes. Add half the ground meat and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up any large pieces as you go, until well browned, about 12 minutes. Add remaining meat and continue to cook until all meat is cooked through and broken into very small pieces, about 10 minutes.
3、Add tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Stir in wine, scraping bottom of pot, and bring to a boil, then cook until raw alcohol smell has cooked off, about 5 minutes. Add bay leaf along with the reserved stock and bring to a simmer; lower heat to maintain a very gentle simmer. Stir in nutmeg and fish sauce (if using) and season with salt. Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened and has almost no excess liquid remaining, about 2 hours.
4、Skim and discard any fat from surface along with bay leaf. Stir in cream and season with salt. Set aside while pasta and besciamella are prepared.
5、Meanwhile, for the Besciamella: In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add flour and whisk to form a paste. Continue to cook, stirring, until raw flour scent is gone, about 1 minute. Whisking constantly, add milk in a thin, steady stream until fully combined. Sauce will initially become very thick, then get very thin once all the milk is added.
6、Heat, stirring constantly, until sauce comes to a simmer and begins to thicken slightly. Reduce heat to low and cook until sauce is just thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk in nutmeg. If any lumps form, simply whisk thoroughly or use a hand blender. Add 1/2 cup of the besciamella to the reserved bolognese. Press a piece of plastic wrap over surface of the remaining sauce to prevent a skin from forming and keep warm until ready to use.
7、To Assemble: Prepare an ice bath. In a pot of salted boiling water and working in batches, cook pasta until just shy of al dente, about 1 minute for fresh pasta. Using a spider or mesh strainer, transfer immediately to ice bath to cool.Drain pasta well, then brush each sheet, one at a time, lightly on both sides with vegetable oil to prevent sticking. Lay them out on a parchment-lined baking sheet, with layers of plastic wrap between the layers of pasta to prevent sticking.
8、To Make the Rosette: On clean work surface lay one pasta sheet with a short side facing you. Spread 1/4 cup of the besciamella in a thin layer evenly on top of pasta sheet, then sprinkle with grated Parmigiano. Place a second sheet of pasta on top. Spread about 3/4 cup of the bolognese on top, leaving a 1-inch border at the top short edge farthest from you. Smear about a teaspoon of the besciamella on the border, Starting at the bottom, roll up the layered pasta like a jelly roll. Transfer to a sheet pan seam-side down.
9、Repeat the process with the remaining pasta sheets, cheese, and sauces to make a total of 5 rolls. Refrigerate the rolls until chilled, at least 1 hour or up to 12 hours.
10、To Make the Tomato Sauce: In a small saucepan, heat olive oil with garlic clove over medium heat until garlic begins to sizzle. Reduce heat to medium low and continue to cook until garlic is just beginning to turn golden, about 4 minutes. Remove garlic clove and discard. Add blended canned tomatoes (or passata) along with the basil and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook, stirring often, until thickened and no longer watery (this may take almost no time at all for some passata products, or up to 20 minutes for waterier canned tomatoes). Remove from heat and season with salt. Set aside.
11、To Assemble and Bake: Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 3-quart oval or 9- by 13-inch baking dish with oil. Gently slice each roll in thirds crosswise to make 18 pinwheels.
12、Spoon a thin, even layer of passata on the bottom of baking dish. Arrange lasagne rolls cut side up, then sprinkle a generous amount of cheese on top. Bake, rotating baking sheet halfway through, until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes.
13、Add remaining besciamella to a piping bag and pipe small dots in a decorative pattern; alternatively, dollop warmed besciamella on top with a spoon. Sprinkle with more cheese and serve.
