Homemade Lasagna
Feeling adventurous in the kitchen? Let’s whip up a timeless Italian creation – homemade lasagna! This delightful dish weaves in tender pasta sheets, a luscious cheese filling, and a sumptuous tomato meat sauce that all conspire to deliver a culinary masterpiece. Don’t be intimidated by the steps involved, it’s a piece of cake and the flavor explosion is worth every effort. Plus, it’s freezable! Perfect for those nights when you don’t feel like cooking!
Here’s your guide to crafting the ultimate lasagna at home:
Firstly, gather your tools: a pan, a bowl, and a 9×13 baking dish.
Now, let’s talk layers:
1. Cheese Filling – Blend ricotta and other cheeses (as per the recipe) with an egg in a bowl and set it aside. If you’re out of ricotta, don’t sweat it. Cottage cheese is a fantastic substitute!
2. Meat Sauce – Sauté onion, garlic, and meat in a saucepan. Stir in the pasta sauce and tomato paste and let it simmer.
Layer the meat sauce, cheese mixture, and noodles, and bake until it bubbles to perfection.
Now, the ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small diced onion
1 pound each of ground beef and Italian sausage
28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
2 cans (6.5 oz each) of tomato sauce
6 oz can of tomato paste
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1/4 cup sugar
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
12 lasagna noodles
16 oz ricotta cheese
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
Here are the steps:
1. Sauté onion in olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add ground beef and sausage, cook until brown. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, sugar, and basil. Let it simmer on low heat.
2. Meanwhile, boil lasagna noodles in a large saucepan for 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
3. In a bowl, mix ricotta, parmesan, and egg until well combined.
4. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray your baking pan with nonstick spray.
5. Assemble the lasagna. Spread 1 cup of meat sauce at the bottom, arrange a layer of noodles, spread 1/2 cup of ricotta mix, sprinkle mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers, ending with cheese.
6. Cover with foil, bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil, bake for another 20-25 minutes until it’s heated through and cheese is bubbly. Let it cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Voila! Your homemade lasagna is ready. Enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done and a meal well cooked! Bon appétit!