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TJ's Ultimate Lasagna

All the flavors of traditional lasagna (including noodles!) plus a few secret ingredients work together to create the robust flavor profile of this ultimate lasagna.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 20 mins
Additional Time
20 mins
Total Time
2 hrs 25 mins
Servings: 15 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

For Meat Mixture
  • 1 pound ground mild or hot Italian sausage (make sure it has no corn syrup or other sugar)
  • 1 pound ground meat (beef, venison, elk, turkey, chicken, etc.)
  • 1 small yellow onion, minced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 28 ounces canned crushed or diced tomatoes, drained
  • 15 ounces canned tomato sauce
  • 12 ounces canned tomato paste
  • ½ cup red cooking wine or beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon dried basil
  • 1 tablespoon THM Super Sweet
  • 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon mineral salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon dried fennel seeds (optional)
For Noodles
  • 8-10 Dreamfields lasagna noodles OR "noodles" of choice: thinly sliced zucchini, thinly sliced eggplant, spinach, etc.
For Creamy Mixture
  • 16 ounces small curd cottage cheese
  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded (NOT the green can kind)
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground ceylon cinnamon or regular ground cinnamon (optional--boosts flavor)
  • 1 teaspoon mineral salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
Other Ingredients
  • 16 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • dried or chopped parsley for garnish, optional

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Mix the ground meat, sausage, and onions together in a pan over medium-high heat. Chop up the meat into crumbles with a chop-stir utensil or a wooden spoon. Cook, stirring frequently, until the meat fully browned and the onions are translucent or lightly caramelized.
  2. Add the garlic and sauté for about 1 minute. Mix in the remaining meat mixture ingredients and cook, covered, over low heat for 1 to 1½ hours or until the liquid has reduced a bit (this is the flavor boosting process), stirring every 15 minutes or so.
  3. About 30 minutes before the meat mixture is done cooking, heat oven to 350℉. Prepare a deep 9- by 13-inch glass or ceramic dish by lightly greasing it with avocado oil cooking spray; set aside.
  4. Prepare noodles of choice. If using Dreamfields lasagna noodles, boil them per the package directions until al dente. Once cooked, drain the noodles then run cold water over the them until cooled down enough to handle.
  5. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix together all of the creamy mixture ingredients.
Assembly
  1. Pick up one lasagna noodle and hold it with one hand over its pot. With the other hand, using your index finger and thumb, wipe off the excess water. Repeat with each noodle as you put it in the dish. Right now, place a layer of noodles in the bottom of the prepared dish with HALF OF THE NOODLES (4 to 5 noodles).
  2. Spread out HALF OF THE CREAMY MIXTURE on top the noodle layer.
  3. Carefully spoon HALF THE MEAT MIXTURE over the first creamy layer.
  4. Sprinkle HALF OF THE MOZZARELLA CHEESE atop the first meat layer.
  5. Place another layer with the REMAINING NOODLES over the first mozzarella layer.
  6. Spread the REMAINING CREAMY MIXTURE over the second noodle layer.
  7. Carefully spoon the REMAINING MEAT MIXTURE over the second creamy layer.
Baking
  1. Pop in the oven for 25 minutes.
  2. Remove from oven and sprinkle on REMAINING MOZZARELLA CHEESE and optional garnish parsley.
  3. Return to the oven for an additional 20 minutes or until heated through (it should be about 160℉) and the cheese is melted, bubbly, and possibly a little browned.
  4. Allow to cool at room temperature for at least 15 to 20 minutes before cutting into 15 squares with a serrated knife.

Notes

  • Since Dreamfields pasta has a special coating that makes most of its carbs non-digestible, each serving has a total 5 carbs in spite what the nutrition facts say.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 377kcal (19%) Carbohydrates 31g (10%) Protein 29g (58%) Fat 23g (35%) Fiber 20g (80%) Sugar Alcohols 1g Net Carbohydrates 10g

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 15servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 377kcal 19%
Carbohydrates 31g 10%
Protein 29g 58%
Fat 23g 35%
Fiber 20g 80%
Sugar Alcohols 1g
Net Carbohydrates 10g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.