Traditional Lasagna Recipe
User Reviews
5.0
27 reviews
Excellent
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
1 hr 10 mins
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Total Time
1 hr 30 mins
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Servings
12 servings
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Calories
497 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Italian
Traditional Lasagna Recipe
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This Traditional Lasagna Recipe is loaded with layers of homemade meat sauce, oodles of cheese, and plenty of chewy lasagna noodles. Pro tip: Pre-cut the lasagna before baking for easier, cheesier, slices.
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Ingredients
For the noodles and cheese filling:
- salt
- 1 box lasagna noodles
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese (see note 1)
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
For the meat sauce:
- 2 pounds ground beef (see note 2)
- 1 medium onion chopped (about 1 cup)
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar or to taste (see note 3)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (see note 4)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For assembly:
- 1 pound shredded Mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- fresh parsley minced, or basil leaves, for garnish
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Instructions
To make the noodles and the cheese filling:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In large stockpot or Dutch oven, bring 4 quarts water and 1 tablespoon salt to boil.
- Add lasagna noodles and cook until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain well and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking (this also removes the starch so the noodles won't stick to each other).
- In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and chill until assembling the lasagna.
To make the meat sauce:
- In a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add beef (or sausage) and onion, and cook until mostly browned, about 5 minutes. Drain if desired. Stir in garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, basil, Italian seasoning, and fennel seeds. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I like 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper). You should have about 2 quarts of sauce.
To assemble and bake the lasagna:
- In the bottom of a 9-inch x 13-inch baking dish, spread 2 cups meat sauce. Arrange a single layer of noodles over the meat sauce (I do 3 full-size noodles lengthwise and then a partial noodle crosswise).
- Spread with a heaping 2/3 cup of the ricotta mixture. Top with about 1 1/2 cups (5 ounces) of mozzarella. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese.
- Spoon 2 cups meat sauce over the cheese. Make another layer of noodles, ricotta mixture (heaping 2/3 cup), mozzarella (1 1/2 cups) and Parmesan (1/3 cup). Repeat layers 1 more time, for a total of 3 layers (you will have extra sauce which you can pass separately).
- Cut lasagna into twelve pieces (this makes it much easier to serve later; you can remove a piece without pulling the melted cheese off the entire lasagna). Spray a large piece of foil with nonstick spray and cover baking dish.
- Bake, covered with foil, for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake until hot and bubbly, about 25 minutes longer. Cool 5 minutes, then garnish with parsley or basil if desired.
Notes
- Ricotta cheese: Make your own ricotta with just 4 ingredients: Milk, lemon juice, vinegar, and salt.
- Ground beef: This recipe calls for 2 pounds of ground beef, but doing 1 pound each of ground beef and ground Italian sausage is delicious, too.
- Sugar: Even a tablespoon is too much for some people. If you don’t like the sound of sugar in your meat sauce, please leave it out. In my family, people add ¼ cup or even up to ½ cup.
- Italian seasoning: It’s easy to make your own homemade Italian seasoning with dried basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme and marjoram.
- Yield: As written, the lasagna is made in a 9” x 13” baking dish, enough for 12 servings.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Serving
1 slice
Calories
497kcal
(25%)
Carbohydrates
33g
(11%)
Protein
30g
(60%)
Fat
27g
(42%)
Saturated Fat
12g
(60%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
10g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
105mg
(35%)
Sodium
528mg
(22%)
Potassium
355mg
(10%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
350IU
(7%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
323mg
(32%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 12servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 497 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 slice | |
| Calories | 497kcal | 25% |
| Carbohydrates | 33g | 11% |
| Protein | 30g | 60% |
| Fat | 27g | 42% |
| Saturated Fat | 12g | 60% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 105mg | 35% |
| Sodium | 528mg | 22% |
| Potassium | 355mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 350IU | 7% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 323mg | 32% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
27 reviews
Excellent
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