🍝 Lasagna
Lasagna is a classic Italian baked pasta dish made with layers of pasta sheets, meat or vegetable filling, cheese, and tomato or béchamel sauce. It’s hearty, comforting, and perfect for family meals or special occasions.
🥘 Ingredients (Serves 6–8)
For the meat sauce:
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (28 oz / 800 g) crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the cheese layer:
- 15 oz (425 g) ricotta cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1–2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 egg (optional, for binding)
Other ingredients:
- 9–12 lasagna noodles (no-boil or pre-cooked)
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
👩🍳 Instructions
- Preheat oven:
- 375°F (190°C).
- Make meat sauce:
- In a skillet, cook ground meat with onions and garlic until browned.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and herbs.
- Simmer 15–20 minutes to thicken.
- Prepare cheese mixture:
- In a bowl, mix ricotta, half the Parmesan, egg, and a pinch of salt.
- Assemble lasagna:
- Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a baking dish.
- Layer noodles, ricotta mixture, meat sauce, and mozzarella.
- Repeat layers, finishing with meat sauce and remaining mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
- Bake:
- Cover with foil and bake 25–30 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Rest & serve:
- Let lasagna rest 10–15 minutes before slicing to set layers.
- Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
💡 Tips
- Use no-boil noodles for faster preparation.
- Add spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini for a vegetable variation.
- Make ahead: Lasagna can be assembled a day in advance and baked when ready.
- Leftovers freeze well and can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
If you want, I can give a quick 30-minute skillet version of lasagna that’s creamy and ready faster than the traditional baked method.
