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A freshly baked lasagna with bubbling cheese and rich tomato sauce

Proven way to grow 5-Star Lasagna

This recipe provides a proven method to create a delicious 5-star lasagna, perfect for any special occasion or a comforting family meal.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meat Sauce
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 28 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 6 oz tomato paste
  • 0.5 cup water
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 1.5 tsp dried basil leaves
  • 0.5 tsp fennel seeds
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
Ricotta Mixture
  • 15 oz ricotta cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 0.5 cup parsley, fresh chopped
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
Other Ingredients
  • 12 lasagna noodles oven-ready
  • 16 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • medium bowl
  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • aluminum foil

Method
 

Prepare Meat Sauce
  1. Cook ground beef, onion, and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat until meat is browned; drain fat.
  2. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  3. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Prepare Ricotta Mixture
  1. In a medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper.
Assemble Lasagna
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Spread 1 cup of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  3. Arrange 3-4 lasagna noodles over the sauce.
  4. Spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles.
  5. Top with 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese and 1.5 cups of meat sauce.
  6. Repeat layers: noodles, remaining ricotta, mozzarella, and meat sauce.
  7. Finish with a layer of noodles, remaining meat sauce, and the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Bake and Serve
  1. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
  2. Remove foil and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
  3. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

For best results, use good quality tomatoes for the sauce. You can also add some red wine to the meat sauce for a richer flavor. Letting the lasagna rest before serving helps it set and makes it easier to slice.