Best Recipe for Lasagna
User Reviews
4.5
Best Recipe for Lasagna
Description
The Best Recipe for Lasagna begins with a slowly simmered meat sauce incorporating browned ground beef, diced onions and garlic, canned tomatoes and sauces, water, and herbs like basil and Italian seasoning. Cooking the sauce 1-2 hours intensifies flavors while thickening the base. Simultaneously, a cheese filling blends ricotta with shredded mozzarella and Parmesan, seasoned with dried basil and parsley and balanced with salt and pepper.
Lasagna noodles are boiled briefly to soften without overcooking and cooled in cold water. The assembly alternates layers starting with a small amount of meat sauce to prevent sticking, followed by noodles, cheese filling, and more sauce repeated through several layers. The top finishes with noodles covered by meat sauce and mozzarella cheese that melts and browns during baking.
Once baked, the dish displays distinct layers of sauce, cheese, and pasta with a tender yet firm texture. The combination produces a balanced savory flavor from the hearty beef sauce and creamy cheese filling. Serving this lasagna warm makes it a substantial main dish well suited for gatherings.
Ingredients
for the meat sauce-
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound ground beef 93/7
- 1 .5 oz can diced tomatoes
- 2 oz cans tomato sauce
- 1 cup water
- 3 bay leaf
- 1 1/2 teaspoons basil dried
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons salt or to taste
for the cheese layer-
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese grated
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese grated
- 2 cups ricotta cheese whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon basil dried
- 1/2 teaspoon parsley dried
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
remaining ingredients-
- 1 pound lasagna noodles
- 4 oz mozzarella cheese grated, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F.
make the meat sauce-
- In a large heavy-bottomed pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add in onion and saute 2-3 minutes. Add in garlic and ground beef. Break meat apart as it browns.
- Once meat has browned completely, pour in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, bay leaves, dried basil, sugar, Italian Seasoning and salt.
- Bring to boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Cook sauce 1-2 hours or until very thick. You may have to add a little extra water as it reduces down to prevent scorching. This is normal.
make the cheese filling-
- While meat sauce cooks, make the cheese layer: stir cheeses together in a bowl with basil, parsley, salt & black pepper. Set aside.
boil the noodles-
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Salt generously and cook lasagna noodles 2/3 of the suggested cook time found on the package (about 7 minutes). Drain and place noodles in a large bowl of cold water.
layering the lasagna-
- Spread 1/2 cup prepared sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Layer in 5-6 noodles across the bottom to completely cover. Spread half of the cheese mixture overtop of the noodles and then one third of the sauce.
- Top with another layer of noodles, the second half of the cheese mixture and another third of the sauce.
- Final layer is the last of the noodles and the last of the meat sauce. Sprinkle with grated mozzarella cheese.*
- Cover lasagna with greased foil. Bake at 375° F for 45 minutes with foil on.
- Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes or until cheese has browned and everything it hot and bubbling.
- Remove from oven, cover lightly with foil, and rest 20-30 minutes before cutting and serving.
- Sprinkle with dried basil or parsley flakes, cut into squares, and serve.
Notes
- Layer the lasagna starting and ending with a small amount of meat sauce to prevent noodles from sticking to the pan.
- Partially cook noodles to keep them tender but avoid overcooking before baking.
- Simmer meat sauce for 1-2 hours to develop a dense, rich flavor while watching to add water to prevent scorching.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 15servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 348 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 348kcal | 17% |
| Carbohydrates | 26g | 9% |
| Protein | 19g | 38% |
| Fat | 18g | 28% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Trans Fat | 0.3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 58mg | 19% |
| Sodium | 562mg | 23% |
| Potassium | 233mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 335IU | 7% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 232mg | 23% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.5
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