A traditional comfort food that adds coziness and warmth to every meal is lasagna. It’s the perfect dish for weekday dinners or family get-togethers because of its layers of rich meat sauce, creamy cheese, and soft pasta. Your guests will be requesting seconds of this flavorful, simple lasagna dish. Use this recipe to make a delicious homemade lasagna!
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The Meat Sauce’s ingredients are:
3/4 pound of de-cased Italian sausage
3/4 pound of ground beef
One sliced onion
Seven minced garlic cloves
Six ounces of tomato paste
28 ounces of crushed tomatoes
15 ounces of tomato sauce
One tablespoon of powdered sugar
One tablespoon of Italian spice
One teaspoon of dried basil
1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
3/4 teaspoon of black pepper, cracked
Optional: Flakes of red pepper (for heat)
Lemon zest is optional (for additional freshness).
Regarding the Cheese Sauce:
Ricotta cheese (15 ounce)
One huge egg
One tablespoon of parsley, finely chopped
Half a teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of black pepper, cracked
For Assembly:
12-15 sheets of lasagna pasta (store-bought)
16 oz fresh mozzarella (sliced)
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Step 1: Get the meat sauce ready
Set the oven temperature to 375°F, or 190°C.
Heat over medium-high heat in a large Dutch oven. Add 3/4 pound of ground beef and 3/4 pound of Italian sausage (without casing). Using a wooden spoon, break up the meat until it is uniformly browned. The meat should be cooked through after 6 to 8 minutes of intermittent stirring.
Prepare the onion and garlic while the meat is browning. Dice one onion and mince seven garlic cloves. Add the onion and garlic to the pan once the meat has browned. Cook, stirring constantly, until the onions are tender, about 5 minutes.
After that, whisk 6 ounces of tomato paste into the meat mixture for approximately one minute. This process adds depth to the sauce and intensifies the flavor of the tomatoes. Add 1 tbsp granulated sugar, 1 tbsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp dried basil, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 3/4 tsp cracked black pepper, 28 oz smashed tomatoes, and 15 oz tomato sauce. The sauce should thicken after about 25 minutes of simmering over medium-low heat.
Step 2: Pasta Preparation
Bring a big saucepan of salted water to a boil while the beef sauce simmers. Make sure your lasagna sheets (12–15) are al dente by following the directions on the package. To halt the cooking process and avoid the pasta getting overcooked or sticky, drain and rinse it with cold water.
Step 3: Cheese Sauce preparation
Combine 1 big egg, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp crushed black pepper, 1 tbsp freshly chopped parsley, and 15 oz of ricotta cheese in a large bowl. Blend everything until it’s smooth. For added taste, you can add other herbs like basil or oregano if you’d like. To counterbalance the dish’s richness, you can also add lemon zest for a crisp, refreshing taste.
Step 4: Putting the Lasagna Together
Apply cooking spray or olive oil to a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish to lightly coat it.
First, evenly cover the bottom of the skillet with 2 cups of beef sauce. Place pasta sheets on top of the sauce, then equally distribute half of the cheese sauce over the pasta. Cover the cheese sauce with an additional 2 cups of beef sauce.
Continue layering pasta, cheese sauce, and meat sauce in this manner. Add the leftover meat sauce to the top layer, and for a golden, cheesy finish, sprinkle fresh mozzarella slices and 1/4 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top.
Step 5: Lasagna Baking
After assembling the lasagna, cover it with aluminum foil and bake it for 30 minutes at 375°F (190°C). The lasagna should be brown and bubbling after 30 minutes, so take off the foil and continue baking for another 15 minutes. You can broil it for two to three minutes if you want a golden, crispy top.
Step 6: Recuperation and Assistance
Allow the lasagna to rest for fifteen minutes after it has finished baking. Because it enables the layers to solidify and facilitates slicing, this step is essential. Once the lasagna has rested, dish it out and serve. Savor the layers of soft pasta, creamy cheese, and robust beef sauce!
In conclusion
This traditional lasagna recipe is easy to make and ideal for anyone who wants to enjoy a filling, cozy supper. It is sure to become a family favorite because of its rich beef sauce, layers of creamy cheese, and freshly cooked pasta. This recipe will definitely fill you up, whether it is served with roasted veggies or a side salad. Because you can prepare it in advance and even freeze leftovers, it’s also excellent for meal prep. Enjoy a tasty homemade lasagna by giving it a try today!
