The Best Lasagna
LASAGNAThere are a few classic Italian dishes that are popular with just about everyone in the states. It’s a perfect sit-down dinner dish to share with family and friends.
Comforting flavors of homemade tomato sauce, pasta, cheese, and beef makes every bite a delight. It’s a wonderful weekend dinner.
This lasagna is amazing. Even though I don’t come from an Italian family, out of every lasagna I tried in an authentic restaurant, mine is still the best. I am yet to find one that comes close to mine.
It could be because the most important ingredients are missing, love in care. Love translates into every ingredient that you choose when cooking for your family and every step you take to prepare it.
When choosing pasta noodles, I recommend using oven-ready ones. It will be much easier and cut down on cooking steps and time.
While layering pasta, have the sheets overlap by 1/2 to 1/4 inch. Remember, you can also break apart some pasta sheets in you need to cover small corners and gaps.
Choose 85/15 meat to fat ratio of ground beef. It will result in a juicier and more tender beef layer.
When possible, make your own marinara sauce. It’s easy and it will make the world of difference in the taste. Marinara sauce can be made ahead of time or even frozen.
Make sure to spray one side of aluminum foil with some spray cooking oil and cover the baking pan oiled side down. That will prevent cheese from sticking to the foil when you pull it off.
Ingredients
Beef layer:
Ricotta layer:
Instructions
for full instruction please see : www.willcookforsmiles.com
Comforting flavors of homemade tomato sauce, pasta, cheese, and beef makes every bite a delight. It’s a wonderful weekend dinner.
This lasagna is amazing. Even though I don’t come from an Italian family, out of every lasagna I tried in an authentic restaurant, mine is still the best. I am yet to find one that comes close to mine.
It could be because the most important ingredients are missing, love in care. Love translates into every ingredient that you choose when cooking for your family and every step you take to prepare it.
When choosing pasta noodles, I recommend using oven-ready ones. It will be much easier and cut down on cooking steps and time.
While layering pasta, have the sheets overlap by 1/2 to 1/4 inch. Remember, you can also break apart some pasta sheets in you need to cover small corners and gaps.
Choose 85/15 meat to fat ratio of ground beef. It will result in a juicier and more tender beef layer.
When possible, make your own marinara sauce. It’s easy and it will make the world of difference in the taste. Marinara sauce can be made ahead of time or even frozen.
Make sure to spray one side of aluminum foil with some spray cooking oil and cover the baking pan oiled side down. That will prevent cheese from sticking to the foil when you pull it off.
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 cups marinara sauce (homemade or store-bought) divided
- 8 oz oven ready lasagna sheets
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Italian cheese mix topping
- 1/2 tsp dry oregano topping
Beef layer:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef (85/15 or 90/10 meat to fat ratio)
- 1/2 tsp dry oregano
- 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- salt
- fresh cracked black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Italian cheese mix
Ricotta layer:
- 20 oz whole milk ricotta
- 1 cup shredded Italian cheese mix
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp minced fresh Italian parsley (or regular parsley)
- 2 tbsp minced fresh basil
- 1 tsp dry oregano
- 1 egg
- salt
- US Customary - Metric
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 and grease 9x13 casserole dish.
- .......................................
for full instruction please see : www.willcookforsmiles.com
