CARNIVAL LASAGNE

(serves 12)

The ingredients . . .

1/4 x Olive oil pastry

1kg dried spaghetti

4 garlic cloves

2 red chilies

Olive oil

500g mixed minced beef and pork 50g coarse stale breadcrumbs

5 large eggs

1 bunch of fresh basil (30g)

150ml Greco di Tufo white wine

3 x 400g tins of plum tomatoes

250g ricotta cheese

100g parmesan

10 slices of prosciutto

. . . and how to cook it

Make olive oil pastry

Cook pasta in large pan for two minutes less than packet instructions, then drain well

Fry sliced garlic and chilies with olive oil for two minutes

Scrunch the meat with one egg and the breadcrumbs

Roll into 2cm balls and add to pan. Cook for five minutes

Tear in 20 basil leaves

Pour in wine

Scrunch in tomatoes, then pour in 1 tin’s worth of water. Simmer for five minutes

Grate half parmesan over pasta, add four eggs and 2 tbsp oil, toss well and divide between two bowls

Mix ricotta into first bowl

Removing the meatballs to one side, toss the tomato sauce into the second bowl

Place half the tomato pasta in a deep 30cm baking dish

Pick over a few basil leaves, finely grate over a little parmesan, and lay over half the prosciutto

Put half the ricotta pasta on top, then the meatballs

Repeat the ricotta pasta layer, add the rest of the basil, parmesan and prosciutto and finish with remaining pasta

Roll out the pastry to 3mm thick, cut into strips and arrange over the pasta

Bake at 180C for 40 minutes