Chicken & ham lasagne
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Chicken & ham lasagne

By Justine Pattison

Contains pork – recipe is for non-Muslims only
This comforting dish of layered pasta sheets, meat and spinach is topped with gooey, melted cheese – freeze now for entertaining later

  • Prep:20 mins
    Cook:50 mins
  • Serves 8
  • Easy

Nutrition per serving

  • kcal 464
  • fat 20g
  • saturates 12g
  • carbs 29g
  • sugars 5g
  • fibre 2g
  • protein 37g
  • salt 1.2g

Ingredients

  • 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (around 700g)
  • ½ medium onion, sliced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 200ml white wine
  • 100g butter
  • 100g plain flour
  • 500ml semi-skimmed milk
  • 140g sliced smoked ham, cut into strips
  • 200g young spinach leaves
  • 225g no pre-cook dried lasagne sheets (about 20 sheets)
  • 200g ready-grated mozzarella
  • 25g Parmesan, finely grated

Tip

To freeze

Follow the steps up to when the lasagne is baked, then leave to cool and cover with a double layer of foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. To serve, unwrap the frozen lasagne and cover with cling film. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Remove the cling film, cover with foil and bake as above for 40 mins. Remove the foil and bake for another 10 mins. 

Method

  1. Put the chicken breasts in a medium saucepan with the onion, bay leaves and wine. Pour over just enough water to cover, around 200ml. Put a lid on top and bring to a gentle simmer. Poach gently for 15 mins or until the chicken is just cooked. Transfer the chicken to a board and strain the liquid into a jug.

  2. Melt the butter in a large non-stick saucepan over a medium heat. Stir in the flour with a wooden spoon and cook for about a minute. Gradually add the milk, a little at a time, stirring well between each addition to ensure the sauce stays smooth. Once all the milk has been added, stir in the reserved cooking liquid and continue cooking for a further 2-3 mins. Adjust the seasoning to taste. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.

  3. Cut the chicken into small chunks and stir into the saucepan. Add the ham and spinach and cook until the spinach has wilted. Spoon a third of the chicken mixture into the base of a 3-litre lasagne dish (about 26 x 18cm). Top with a third of the lasagne sheets. Repeat the layers twice more, ending with lasagne. Scatter the mozzarella and Parmesan on top and season with black pepper. Can be frozen at this stage (see below). Bake for about 25 mins or until the lasagne is tender, the topping is well browned and the filling hot.

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