A Taste of Italy in Every Bite
Ciao amici! Today, I'm sharing with you my beloved recipe for classic lasagna, straight from the heart of Italy. This dish is a labor of love, but oh, is it worth it when you take that first delicious bite!
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. sweet Italian Sausage
- 3/4 lb. lean ground Beef
- 1/2 cup minced Onion
- 2 cloves Garlic, crushed
- 28 oz. crushed Tomatoes (canned)
- 12 oz. Tomato Paste (canned)
- 12 oz. Tomato Sauce (canned)
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1/2 cup Water
- 2 tablespoons white Sugar
- 1+1/2 teaspoons dried Basil leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground Black Pepper
- 4 tablespoons chopped freshParsley
- 12 Lasagna noodles
- 16 oz. Ricotta cheese
- 1 Egg
- 3/4 pound Mozzarella cheese, sliced
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
Begin by grabbing your trusty Dutch oven and drizzling a bit of olive oil into it. Just a splash will do – swirl it around a bit to coat the bottom. Heat it up over medium heat until it's nice and toasty. Once ready, toss in your sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic. Let them sizzle and cook until they're beautifully browned and oh-so-flavorful.
Now, it's time to add in the star of the show – the tomatoes! Stir in your crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Don't forget to sprinkle in a pinch of sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and a handful of parsley. Let it all simmer together, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring every so often to make sure those flavors mingle just right.
While your sauce is bubbling away, let's get those lasagna noodles cooked up! Bring a big pot of lightly salted water to a boil, then toss in your noodles and let them dance around for 8 to 10 minutes until they're perfectly al dente. Once they're done, drain them and give them a quick rinse with cold water.
Now, let's talk cheese! In a mixing bowl, combine your creamy ricotta cheese with an egg, a sprinkle of parsley, and a pinch of salt. Mix it all up until it's nice and smooth – this is going to be the delicious glue that holds our lasagna together.
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) – we're getting close to lasagna heaven now!
Time to assemble this masterpiece!
Grab your favorite 9x13 inch baking dish and start by spreading a layer of that scrumptious meat sauce on the bottom.
Next, arrange 6 of your cooked lasagna noodles lengthwise over the sauce.
Now, spread half of your ricotta mixture over the noodles, followed by a layer of melty mozzarella cheese slices.
Spoon another layer of meat sauce over the cheese, and sprinkle it all with a little bit of Parmesan cheese.
Repeat these layers until you've used up all your ingredients, and finish it off with a final sprinkle of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top.
Cover your lasagna with foil – we want to keep all that cheesy goodness locked in! Pop it in the oven and let it bake for 25 minutes. Then, remove the foil and let it bake for another 25 minutes until it's golden brown and bubbly.
Nonna's secret tip: Let your lasagna cool for about 15 minutes before slicing into it – this helps it hold together beautifully and ensures that every mouthful is pure perfection.
Listen up, darlings! If you want to make the most delicious lasagna this side of Naples, you've got to use the good stuff – and let me tell you, nothing beats my favorite olive oil brand, Laconiko!
And there you have it, amici! A classic lasagna recipe that's sure to transport you straight to the heart of Italy with every delicious bite.
Mangia bene!
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