Lasagna is the perfect dish for a cozy family dinner or a special gathering. This Italian classic, with its rich layers of meat sauce, creamy cheese, and tender pasta, is sure to impress everyone at the table. In this detailed guide, we'll walk you through each step of making the ultimate lasagna. Whether you're a seasoned cook or just starting out, our recipe is easy to follow and guarantees delicious results.
Lasagna is one of those dishes that brings warmth and joy to any table. Its combination of savory meat sauce, creamy cheese, and perfectly cooked noodles makes it a favorite for many. This recipe is designed to be both easy and thorough, ensuring that anyone can make a delicious lasagna from scratch.
Ingredients:
1. For the Meat Sauce:
- 1 pound ground
beef
- 1-pound Italian
sausage
- 1 onion, finely
chopped
- 4 cloves garlic,
minced
- 2 cans (28 ounces
each) crushed tomatoes
- 2 cans (6 ounces
each) tomato paste
- 2 cans (15 ounces
each) tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons
sugar
- 2 teaspoons dried
basil leaves
- 1 teaspoon fennel
seeds
- 2 teaspoons
Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon
ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoons
chopped fresh parsley
2. For the Cheese Mixture:
- 16 ounces ricotta
cheese
- 1 egg
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups shredded
mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated
Parmesan cheese
3. For the Lasagna:
- 12 lasagna
noodles
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon
olive oil
Instructions:
- Cook the ground
beef, sausage, onion, and garlic in a large pot over medium heat until browned.
- Stir in the
crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water.
- Add sugar, basil,
fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and parsley.
- Simmer the sauce,
covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
2. Cook the Lasagna Noodles:
- Bring a large pot
of lightly salted water to a boil.
- Cook the lasagna
noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
Toss with olive oil to prevent sticking.
3. Prepare the Cheese Mixture:
- In a bowl, mix
ricotta cheese with the egg, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and half of the parsley.
4. Assemble the Lasagna:
- Preheat the oven
to 375°F (190°C).
- Spread 1 1/2 cups
of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Place 6 noodles
lengthwise over the meat sauce. Spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture over
the noodles. Top with a third of the mozzarella cheese.
- Spoon 1 1/2 cups
meat sauce over the mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
- Repeat the
layers, finishing with mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
- Cover with foil,
making sure it doesn’t touch the cheese to prevent sticking.
5. Bake:
- Bake in the
preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 25
minutes, until the top is golden and bubbly.
- Let the lasagna
cool for 15 minutes before serving.