Description
Hearty lasagna from Southern Italy combines layers of pasta, rich meat sauce, and creamy cheeses in a comforting classic. Generous portions and robust flavors make this dish a perfect centerpiece for family gatherings and weekend meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 0.5 lb (226.8 g) lean ground beef
- 0.5 lb (226.8 g) Italian sausage
- 36 oz (1.02 kg) pasta sauce
- 4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 0.5 cup parmesan cheese, shredded and divided
- 12 lasagna noodles, uncooked
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 tbsps tomato paste
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 0.25 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preparation: Warm the oven to 350°F. Cook lasagna noodles in salted water until tender, then rinse with cold water to prevent adhesion.
- Meat Sauce Creation: Brown ground beef, Italian sausage, onions, and garlic in a skillet. Drain excess fat thoroughly. Blend in tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer sauce to intensify flavors and achieve desired consistency.
- Cheese Mixture Assembly: Combine mozzarella, Parmesan, ricotta, parsley, egg, and salt in a bowl until smooth and well-integrated.
- Layering Technique: Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Strategically arrange noodles, alternating with ricotta mixture and meat sauce. Repeat layering process to build depth and complexity of flavors.
- Final Topping: Cover the lasagna with remaining noodles and meat sauce, ensuring complete surface coverage.
- Baking Process: Seal dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle additional cheese on top, and continue baking for 15 minutes until cheese melts and turns golden.
- Resting and Serving: Let lasagna rest for 15 minutes to stabilize structure and enhance flavor integration. Slice and serve with garnish of choice.
Notes
- Prevent Noodle Sticking: Rinse cooked pasta with cold water immediately after draining to stop the cooking process and prevent clumping.
- Fat Drainage Matters: Thoroughly drain excess fat from meat to ensure a lighter, less greasy lasagna texture and prevent pooling oil.
- Cheese Mixture Tip: Blend cheese ingredients until smooth for even distribution and consistent flavor in every bite.
- Resting is Crucial: Let lasagna rest for 15 minutes after baking to allow layers to set, making cutting and serving much cleaner and more stable.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 567
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 1062 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 118 mg